#EAPM - Summer time again: But more than one clock is ticking…

As summers go, this one will clearly not be the best any of us have ever had, what with COVID-19 rampant and likely to remain so for some time, countries doing their own thing, and a million possible reasons popping up for why there should be way more co-ordination across the EU in health care, writes European Alliance for Personalised Medicine (EAPM) Executive Director Denis Horgan. 

We already knew this, of course, and the coronavirus crisis is the biggest example anyone could have asked for. Except that we most certainly would not have asked for it.

The death toll is rising across Europe and the world, with most countries still weeks from hitting their peak of infections, and the strain on societies is probably not yet showing as much as it surely will the longer this goes on. Economically, physically, mentally…

There is, however, some cause for optimism in the sense that the vast majority of people are observing self-isolation, social distancing or both, and seem to be looking out for each other.

On the other hand, there are others out there that presumably think they are superhuman, and are doing their best to get around any restrictions, thus putting their lives and those of others at substantial risk.  Meanwhile, the mischievous are misbehaving and misinforming on social media and even taking the opportunity to hack accounts.

And as for hoarders of everything from toilet paper to pasta, and those who would empty bank cash machines not caring about anyone else’s needs - perhaps Dante reserved a particular circle in hell.

Anyway, onwards and upwards. So while EAPM is busy preparing its post-conference report, here’s the latest around Europe in our specialist area.

Testing pros and cons

We mentioned our conference briefly just then, and one of many subjects touched on during the event was brought up by UK former prime minister Tony Blair this weekend - namely that of mass testing.   

Blair echoed the thoughts of former health secretary Jeremy Hunt when he said that a point will need to be reached where a ‘very large’ proportion of the population is tested for coronavirus.

Unfortunately, part of the reality is that the tests are not available to be purchased in the UK, nor is the material to make them easy to get. There is potential high demand, but not enough supply. Essentially, the laboratories have neither the equipment nor the staff to use it.

There are other factors, too. You can theoretically test as many people as you like in one day and, even if all or most came up negative, it wouldn’t mean that citizens couldn’t catch it one or two days later. So it can never be accurate although, granted, it would arguably paint a better picture of the situation.

Some argue that you would need to test again and again, in a systematic way ideally involving testing the healthcare professionals first, and so on…

What’s up in Europe? 

It has been reported by Politico (who spoke to her over the phone) that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen intends to put the EU’s 2021-2027 budget “at the heart of our efforts” to fight the current crisis.

While there are ways and means on top of the Multiannual Financial Framework, “the MFF is a means of strategic investment and intra-European cohesion which is accepted by all EU member states”, she said.

Von der Leyen went on: “It’s important to me that the MFF, as one of the most powerful instruments we have, is at the heart of our efforts” to help those member states most affected. 

The executive’s president reckons, we’re told, that the MFF could be an additional guarantee that investments will happen post-crisis, especially as it usually has plenty of financial resources at the start of a new budgetary term(Brexit notwithstanding).

One thing is absolutely certain - the horizon and long-term outlook for Europe has certainly changed since Member States (pretty much as-per-usual) failed to agree the budget in February before the crisis really got a grip.

Corona bonds or not, then?

During the same conversation, it seems that von der Leyen made it clear that the MFF won’t be enough. “We will help Italy and Spain very intensively. Several instruments, including bonds, are being considered and are discussed in the Eurogroup.”

Meanwhile, Italy, Spain, France and several other Member states take the view that common debt should form at least part of the economic response to the pandemic.

To absolutely nobody’s surprise whatsoever, Germany and the Netherlands (plus others) disagree. Heigh-ho…

Getting clinical

At the end of last the week, the European Commission launched its “COVID-19 Clinical Management Support System”.

This will allow clinicians to interconnect to discuss cases and possible treatments via a telephone help desk run by DG SANTE. 

The plan is in place “to speed up the adoption of specific treatment options and help reduce some of the uncertainties due to the unknown aspects of the virus”, says the Commission.

Undercover issues

We’ve doubtless all read that the Netherlands imported swathes of face masks from China to help fight Covid-19. Well, now many of these masks have been recalled from hospitals of not being good enough. The number could be as high as 50% of the 1.3 million.

And one region of the Czech Republic has meanwhile reported that rapid tests, also sent from China, have also proven faulty. The error rate, says Prague, is as high as a massive 80%.

Lockdown latest

At the weekend, the death toll from coronavirus-related issues in Italy passed the 10,000 mark. Given that fact, it seems the government will “inevitably” extend the lockdown. 

Spain, meanwhile, saw a record 838 people die on Saturday, bringing the total at that point to more than 6,500. As of today, all non-essential workplaces are closed until (at least) 9 April.

Across the Atlantic, the US has hit an unwanted Number One spot, now having the largest amount of infections in the world and reporting 2,000 dead as of yesterday.

And, in what is surely a salutary lesson to all, China is staring down the barrel of a second coronavirus outbreak. Wuhan now has more than 600 imported cases, mostly from Beijing. 

It seems that everywhere will see lockdown extensions and, in some cases, the upgrading of current measures and the grim reality is that any talk of ‘two weeks’, ‘one month’ etc is a nonsense. 

Governments seem to work on the philosophy that the general public is ill-equipped to handle the truth and can only digest it in small chunks - e.g. two weeks, then when we’ve got them used to that, we’ll extend it again, then again… But slowly the truth that the current situation, or variations thereof, will be ongoing pretty much all summer (if not longer) is dawning.

At least Britain’s Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove is telling it like it is, advising UK citizens to prepare for a “significant period” of lockdown.

Of course, different member states are interpreting ‘lockdown’ differently. For example, at the time of writing, in Spain citizens can only leave home to buy food and medicines, walk the dog, go to the hospital or commute to work if absolutely necessary. 

In contrast, Dutch citizens are still allowed to celebrate their birthday with three best friends (although social distancing rules applies in respect of blowing out candles). Such gatherings are only allowed in houses big enough, though, said Justice Minister Ferdinand Grapperhaus. He added: “When we all get through this, we can give heaps of parties.”

In Brussels, it has been in the news that one journalist paid rather a lot for a croissant. Reporter Melissa Heikkilä was fined for stopping on a walk to eat one. While walks are “encouraged”, no stopping is permitted. At the time of writing the fine hasn’t been decided, but looks set to be between €250-500. Let’s hope the croissant was fresh.

Over in Turkey, citizens aged 65-and-over are in 100% lockdown - they cannot leave the house, all shopping must be delivered by others, etc. The fine, as of its introduction last week, is more than 3,000 Turkish lira (well in excess of €400 at today’s exchange rate) and there’s also the threat of a year in prison (presumably in solitary).

Finally, for now, in England, the hands of romantically inclined (or not) couples are being forced to a certain degree.

The Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jenny Harries has said that couples currently living apart have a stark choice -  either take the plunge and move in together or face a potentially long period apart.

And they say romance is dead….

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