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Our paper in @TheLancet led by @ViolaPriesemann signed by >300 scientists calling for pan-European commitment to rapidly contain & maintain low SARS-CoV-2 levels through coordination.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32625-8/fulltext
To join us in this call sign here:
http://www.containcovid-pan.eu
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https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32625-8/fulltext
To join us in this call sign here:
http://www.containcovid-pan.eu
Thread
We recommend bringing down transmission to very low numbers (<10/million). In the long run this will mean:
Fewer deaths
Better economic recovery (e.g. New Zealand)
Return to near normal life
More likely to sustain low transmission as test & trace not overwhelmed
Fewer deaths Better economic recovery (e.g. New Zealand) Return to near normal life More likely to sustain low transmission as test & trace not overwhelmed
These case numbers have been achieved in Europe before & can be again but will require a concerted effort across Europe. This will need imposition of effective non-pharmaceutical interventions for a period of time until case numbers come down so test & trace systems can cope.
While imposition of interventions to reduce cases may cause disruption, the impact of short-term interventions (which help contain the virus & avoid further lockdowns) must be balanced against the harm caused by uncontrolled spread & repeated lockdowns, as we are seeing now.
Once we get cases down, how do we keep them down?
Ease restrictions cautiously
Mitigate transmission- mask wearing, hygiene, social distancing, test & trace
Continue surveillance
Rapid outbreak response- travel restrictions/tartgeted testing/regional measures
Ease restrictions cautiously Mitigate transmission- mask wearing, hygiene, social distancing, test & trace Continue surveillance Rapid outbreak response- travel restrictions/tartgeted testing/regional measures
These measures must be part of a long-term vision across Europe with regional and national action plans aligned with this.
This includes:
Vaccination strategy
Testing strategy
Border controls
Sharing data, evidence and experience
Protecting vulnerable groups
This includes:
Vaccination strategy Testing strategy Border controls Sharing data, evidence and experience Protecting vulnerable groups
Experience from across the globe suggests that countries like New Zealand, Australia, and Taiwan that have followed a strategy of robustly containing the virus to very low levels have not only protected public health, and saved many lives, but have also done better economically.
Vaccines are here. These will help reduce transmission in the long run but we need an urgent strategy to save protect our societies and economies now. Half-way approaches, aimed at protecting the economy don't work. They have cost lives & harmed the economy even further.
We need a coordinated strategy & commitment across Europe to contain COVID-19
Each day we wait costs thousands of lives.
This is the best way forward. And global experience tells us that it can be done, with political will & commitment.
Let's commit to #containcovid now.
Each day we wait costs thousands of lives.
This is the best way forward. And global experience tells us that it can be done, with political will & commitment.
Let's commit to #containcovid now.
