Experts incl @mariusgilbert and @LeilaBelk plead for more activities to be able to reopen by making their locations covid-conform much like a fire safety certificate

This will only be a success if we accept our future "living despite the virus" https://plus.lesoir.be/365818/article/2021-04-12/la-carte-blanche-de-trois-experts-il-est-temps-dadapter-notre-strategie

Vaccination is our way out but it is not a "free from jail card"

For many years to come, we will need to live with the possibility of variants which escape the vaccines and restart the whole pandemic

1/N

This means that society will need to "live despite the virus" for a few years at least, i.e.

- Monitor the pandemic evolution (regular testing)
- Limit the spreading impact of events
- Measures that reassure the population that they are safe
- Be able to crush an outbreak

2/N

However, this "living despite the virus" will need to be done in a way compatible with societal life and keep intrusive measures to a minimal

As the authors of the letter mention, transmission of the virus happens essentially via air in badly aerated locations

3/N

So having a certificate to show that a place satisfies a covid-aeration norm will be key

But it will not be enough

4/N

On top, one will need to minimize the number of covid cases in order to allow places such as bars to be full again

Mass testing before entering places is highly likely to become the norm

5/N

In case there is an outbreak, public authorities will need to be able to react fast and effectively

In addition, we will probably be obliged to share some real data so that track and tracing can work in case of a cluster

6/N

Public authorities will also have their share of the work

- They will be also a regular "sample testing" of the population to check for the situation
- They will perform a systematic follow up of variants

7/N

All the above will be able to reduce the risk of covid in public life

Private life, I admit, remains the biggest risk because I don't see what we can do in between:
- Limiting the number of contacts
- Self-testing and responsibility
Both have more than their share of risks

8/N

All in all, the successful way out of this pandemic will rely on

a) realizing it is not over by the autumn
b) implementing a mix of freedom (open activities, individual responsibility) with some zerocovid elements (share of info, quarantine, etc.)

9/N

Here is what I fear however. Nobody wants to see the upcoming need to "live despite the virus"

The whole narrative has been: "hold on tight and in a few months, we will lift all measures"

10/N

At the moment, I fear that measures such as making buildings covid secure
- will be taken on enthusiastically at first (out of jail card)
- then challenged because of the costs and the constraints
- watered down by the authorities under pressure
- basically be ineffective

11/N

Take the horeca

It is quite understandable that the sector will be appalled at the idea to have to invest into ventilation and air filtering systems given that:
- It is only for a few months
- they are likely to have other constraints still in place

12/N

The result?
- The measures are not in place
- A new variant comes
- Everything needs to shut down again

Such a yoyo approach is killing
- It is hugely costly and demoralizing
- Nobody wants to invest into businesses at risk of having to close every 3 months

13/N

In conclusion? We should face reality in order to get out of this mess
The virus is here for more than the summer
It will require a new setting in which we live "despite" the virus
It will create a "new cost of being in society"
Let's embrace instead of denying it

14/N

I don't like it
Nobody likes it
Nobody asked for this virus
But we will not escape it now

So the sooner we embrace this reality and the consequences for the years to come, the sooner we will make progress

N/N