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Faced with the spread of variants in Europe and the risks represented by their latest mutations, epidemiologist Antoine Flahault, from the University of Geneva, pleads for a radical approach. According to him, only strict and generalized containment on a European scale, followed by isolation, will allow the Old Continent to get rid of the virus.
The British variant of the coronavirus is of growing concern to experts around the world. Not only is it more contagious (in the order of 35%), probably more lethal, but its mutations could also escape the antibodies that the body has accumulated after infection or a vaccination.
Faced with these new sources of concern, Antoine Flahault, epidemiologist and director of the Institute for Global Health at the University of Geneva, advocates an approach inspired by Asian countries, where normal life seems to have almost resumed its course.
“Living without the virus”
“You cannot think that a country alone solves the situation on its soil. On the other hand, the Schengen Europe can. She could lock herself in and adopt Asian policy, ”he pleads in the columns of theEssential. “So we could try to transform the Schengen Area into a big island, in order to live without this virus rather than living with it. If the situation were brought under control within Europe, economic life could flourish again there, and the morale of the population would recover. “
Before locking out, we must also put an end to the circulation of the virus in our territories. For Professor Antoine Flahault, this must imperatively go through strict confinement: “there is an initial boost to be given but the benefit would be fairly rapid. This is what is at stake, and it must be European. Coordinated action and a shared objective with neighboring countries are essential, ”he said.
Closing schools is “essential”
Asked about the closure of schools, the specialist believes that “their closure is essential to regain control.” But it is advisable to be creative, for example by rearranging the school calendar or by extending the school holidays.
