7-point Plan to return to public life
German Researchers presented a letter of recommendation, in which measures for the progressive normalization of the public life are described. In particular, the area of deck to play, in their view, the end use of the mouth, nose protection mask, the short-term use of mobile data and the Expansion of the test capacities of the most crucial roles.
The National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina published the second Ad-hoc statement with the title of “Coronavirus pandemic – Health-related measures”. The document focuses on the conditions under which a return to normality is conceivable without the pandemic gets out of control.
How do we get back to normality?
The described measures are basically aimed at the containment of the epidemic and the protection of vulnerable groups of the population. Similarly, a targeted and significant increase in capacity in public health and in the care system is crucial. The first three of the seven points are the National Academy of Sciences, according to of a particularly high relevance. Existing distance and hygiene recommendations have not been listed again and apply as a prerequisite. Here are the points:
1. Widespread use of the mouth-nose protection
Wearing mouth-nose protection masks to reduce the Transmission of viruses, mainly due to a reduction of the released droplets. Since a large number of undetected Patients without significant symptoms in the public space, can Wear the surface of protective masks the spread of infection to slow down and thus, indirectly, the own risk for the disease, reduce. A mouth-nose cover or serve, therefore, also restricted the self-protection.
The Academy recommends that a gradual easing of restrictions should not necessarily go with the blanket Wearing mouth-nose protection, hand-in-hand. This should apply to the whole of the public space, so also in workplaces, educational institutions and in the public local and long – distance transport. A prerequisite for this measure, the surface of the deck is the end of the availability of protective masks ends. The deficiency could be bridged by self-made masks, a bowl and towels. It should be noted, that the mouth, nose, chin and the side edges are preferably completely covers.
FFP2/3 masks should stay for the medical field, the care and special professional groups. For more information about protective masks read the article: RKI recommends the Wearing of protective masks.
2. Short-term use of mobile data
The illustration of spatial and temporal contacts between people is a great help in the identification of infected persons and vulnerable people. To make the Academy recommended, therefore, as soon as possible digital tools such as a corresponding mobile phone App available. In such a App, people should voluntarily and in compliance with data protection and personality rights anonymous such data. The data will be deleted after a defined period of time.
More information about Apps for the Corona-containment, you will find in the article: Corona-App: Transfer of COVID-19 could slow down significantly.
3. Test capacity increase
The test capacities in Germany are around 350,000 PCR Tests per week. These capacities should be strengthened according to the recommendation of the Academy by a new validated rapid tests, to allow a wider testing. So spread the herd to better isolate and quarantine measures could be targeted to be imposed. For the implementation of the veterinary medical examination facilities, and other research institutions could be included.
4. Representative testing of the population to infection and immunity
In addition, a representative and randomized testing of the population, according to the recommendation of the Academy required. As a result, important findings could be obtained for a realistic assessment of the epidemiological Situation, such as, for example, the relative proportion of Infected, Diseased, Ill, intensive cases and Deceased, as well as the existence of immunities. On the basis of such tests could be reliable to be calculated, which measures how. Such measures, for example, could be adapted regionally.
5. Detection of risk factors
The Academy proposes, at the time of registration of new cases, the risk factors of the affected Person digital payments to capture. For this purpose, the age, existing medical conditions and Smoking status, for example. Such factors significantly affect gradients the risk of severe disease. The Information on how many high-risk patients are infected, serving the assessment of the utilization of the public health system.
6. Restructuring in hospitals and in the health system
The necessary and temporary restructuring in the clinics and in the public health system because of COVID-19 must be checked according to the Academy regularly and adjusted. It must be ensured that other acute and chronic diseases are not neglected. This count also for important diagnoses for the early detection of diseases, as well as for long-term therapies. Here, the digital offers may hands-like playing hours of Video an increasingly important role.
7. The willingness of the population
Crucial to the return to normality, above all, the willingness of the population, the measures recommended to implement either. Since SARS-Cov-2 can be on average 2.5 days before the start of the first symptoms of transmitted and many of the Infected have only mild symptoms, is a sustainable and responsible behavior of the population is crucial. Currently, health-related measures are particularly important.
The example of South Korea to take
The Academy points out that similar measures in South Korea have a great success. The country had at the beginning of the pandemic in the most affected countries in the world. Now the South Koreans have the situation in control and have taken up the public life to a large extent. The goal must be to reduce the number of new Infections emanating from an Infected to a level of below 1.0, so the total number of the Diseased can be kept at a level that our health can sustain the system.
Economic consequences contain
Currently, the health is the measures to curb in the foreground. Long-term social and economic consequences must be taken into account, emphasizing the Academy. Currently, the “Leopoldina” works to further comments with recommendations for a sustainable “back-up” of the economy. (vb)