Researchers call for Europe to unite in battle against the pandemic

Berlin, Dec. 20, (dpa/GNA) – Europe needs a united strategy to combat the novel coronavirus, a group of international scientists said in a call for action.

But given open borders within Europe, a single country cannot keep the number of Covid-19 cases low, meaning joint action and common goals are essential, the group of scientists led by researcher Viola Priesemann wrote in The Lancet medical journal.

“If we do not act now, further waves of infection are to be expected, with consequential further damage to health, society, jobs and businesses,” they wrote.

They proposed strong, coordinated European action to limit the number of new daily infections to no more than 7 per 100,000 population per week in every country throughout Europe.

Priesemann, a researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization in the central German city of Goettingen, said this goal could be achieved by spring.

“The reduction should be synchronized across all European countries and start as soon as possible. This synchronization will allow European borders to stay open,” the scientists wrote.

Once case numbers are low, restrictions may be eased, but this should be carefully monitored, they said, and mitigation measures, such as mask-wearing, hygiene and contact regulation should be continued and improved.

Continued testing is needed to ensure that any increase in case numbers is detected as soon as possible, while local outbreaks require a rapid, rigorous response with travel restrictions, testing, and possibly regional lockdowns, they said.

More than 300 scientists from around the world have signed the initiative so far.
GNA