I think enough noise has been made in that High Court thread now. So I’ll give you something else to chat/argue about.
How would be the best way to ease out of the current restrictions, when the time comes?
I’ll start.
I would propose making the first little step be allowing 5 people in outside groups (not inside) but maintaining the 1.5m thing.
buffy said:
I think enough noise has been made in that High Court thread now. So I’ll give you something else to chat/argue about.How would be the best way to ease out of the current restrictions, when the time comes?
I’ll start.
I would propose making the first little step be allowing 5 people in outside groups (not inside) but maintaining the 1.5m thing.
Removing the warning labels from dangerous stuff, and making dickheads wear a sign.
tell everyone the catholic cardinal is free and on the streets again
SCIENCE said:
tell everyone the catholic cardinal is free and on the streets again
Pass laws so that Pell has to stay 100 meters from everyone at all times.
Kids are allowed back to school next next aren’t they.
So easing out is starting to happen.
Tau.Neutrino said:
Kids are allowed back to school next next aren’t they.So easing out is starting to happen.
they’ve been open throughout
i’ve been quite enjoying the new social hygiene, the consciousness raising, lends to casual and detached study, though’s been little change to my life, experienced recluse I am, professional
i’m sort of glad of the pathogen-induced stasi-like experience, as it were in east germany way back with lots of people watching each other
it could be that after the experience of self-isolation, everyone has internalized it, that there will be reeducation camps, how to socialize normally, overcome the agoraphobia, and anxiety about germs, contagions, you know people won’t be able to adjust (back to the apparent) freedom they once enjoyed, or were going to enjoy had they earned enough money
and how fortunate is it there is money to earn so that a person might realize the full potential of the conversional properties of money, the expanded possibilities of actualizing those instrumental desires. Even for people with a very limited imaginations, their wants materialized, made physical, money can do that, it’s like an imaginary friend that makes redundant real imaginary friends
the machine world of media has to benefit from the contagion, how would the we know what to do without it, you know the dangers of an undermanaged reality, fickle people, organic things, struggling for rationality, largely governed by feelings
look to machines, driven to machines by the threat, abandon any reality between 1 and 0
transition said:
i’ve been quite enjoying the new social hygiene, the consciousness raising, lends to casual and detached study, though’s been little change to my life, experienced recluse I am, professionali’m sort of glad of the pathogen-induced stasi-like experience, as it were in east germany way back with lots of people watching each other
it could be that after the experience of self-isolation, everyone has internalized it, that there will be reeducation camps, how to socialize normally, overcome the agoraphobia, and anxiety about germs, contagions, you know people won’t be able to adjust (back to the apparent) freedom they once enjoyed, or were going to enjoy had they earned enough money
and how fortunate is it there is money to earn so that a person might realize the full potential of the conversional properties of money, the expanded possibilities of actualizing those instrumental desires. Even for people with a very limited imaginations, their wants materialized, made physical, money can do that, it’s like an imaginary friend that makes redundant real imaginary friends
the machine world of media has to benefit from the contagion, how would the we know what to do without it, you know the dangers of an undermanaged reality, fickle people, organic things, struggling for rationality, largely governed by feelings
look to machines, driven to machines by the threat, abandon any reality between 1 and 0
Step back to the red line please.
No gradual easing. Get new cases down to zero, wait for active cases to drop to zero (either recovery or death), then hold at zero active cases and zero new cases for 2 or 3 weeks. Lift all social distancing rules and let pubs and cafes and shops open. But maintain travel restrictions with the outside world and be an island of happiness and freedom. Only ease travel restrictions with other jurisdictions as and when they can credibly claim to be also at zero cases.
Long term plan is to get a vaccine and inoculate everyone before easing off travel restrictions.
party_pants said:
No gradual easing. Get new cases down to zero, wait for active cases to drop to zero (either recovery or death), then hold at zero active cases and zero new cases for 2 or 3 weeks. Lift all social distancing rules and let pubs and cafes and shops open. But maintain travel restrictions with the outside world and be an island of happiness and freedom. Only ease travel restrictions with other jurisdictions as and when they can credibly claim to be also at zero cases.Long term plan is to get a vaccine and inoculate everyone before easing off travel restrictions.
could work also
party_pants said:
No gradual easing. Get new cases down to zero, wait for active cases to drop to zero (either recovery or death), then hold at zero active cases and zero new cases for 2 or 3 weeks. Lift all social distancing rules and let pubs and cafes and shops open. But maintain travel restrictions with the outside world and be an island of happiness and freedom. Only ease travel restrictions with other jurisdictions as and when they can credibly claim to be also at zero cases.Long term plan is to get a vaccine and inoculate everyone before easing off travel restrictions.
I guess the issue is that there may be a re-emergence some how and then what will the world do?. My guess is they will put safety practises into place but continue forward if this happens again a year from now , for example.
The WHO needs to reasonably enforce through science based reasons my food markets around the world need to change their ways and it can’t be please think about doing it but rather have a deadline in place for world compliance.
I think there is a danger of people getting sick of waiting, and I’m not in favour of anarchy. I don’t think the current restriction levels can be maintained for months and months.
buffy said:
I think there is a danger of people getting sick of waiting, and I’m not in favour of anarchy. I don’t think the current restriction levels can be maintained for months and months.
in those countries that got control early, they are being derestricted
monkey skipper said:
party_pants said:
No gradual easing. Get new cases down to zero, wait for active cases to drop to zero (either recovery or death), then hold at zero active cases and zero new cases for 2 or 3 weeks. Lift all social distancing rules and let pubs and cafes and shops open. But maintain travel restrictions with the outside world and be an island of happiness and freedom. Only ease travel restrictions with other jurisdictions as and when they can credibly claim to be also at zero cases.Long term plan is to get a vaccine and inoculate everyone before easing off travel restrictions.
I guess the issue is that there may be a re-emergence some how and then what will the world do?. My guess is they will put safety practises into place but continue forward if this happens again a year from now , for example.
Dr Norman Swan, who has way out in front of govt on the response, has been talking about a hard lockdown for 4 to 6 weeks and then a “pulsed” off and on the brake pedal as hospitals can cope.
buffy said:
I think there is a danger of people getting sick of waiting, and I’m not in favour of anarchy. I don’t think the current restriction levels can be maintained for months and months.
One thing the government has done as a sweetener and a support is opened the wallet across the population. They are making it easier for people to comply and keep them supported for the time being.
Ian said:
monkey skipper said:
party_pants said:
No gradual easing. Get new cases down to zero, wait for active cases to drop to zero (either recovery or death), then hold at zero active cases and zero new cases for 2 or 3 weeks. Lift all social distancing rules and let pubs and cafes and shops open. But maintain travel restrictions with the outside world and be an island of happiness and freedom. Only ease travel restrictions with other jurisdictions as and when they can credibly claim to be also at zero cases.Long term plan is to get a vaccine and inoculate everyone before easing off travel restrictions.
I guess the issue is that there may be a re-emergence some how and then what will the world do?. My guess is they will put safety practises into place but continue forward if this happens again a year from now , for example.
Dr Norman Swan, who has way out in front of govt on the response, has been talking about a hard lockdown for 4 to 6 weeks and then a “pulsed” off and on the brake pedal as hospitals can cope.
could work
monkey skipper said:
buffy said:
I think there is a danger of people getting sick of waiting, and I’m not in favour of anarchy. I don’t think the current restriction levels can be maintained for months and months.
One thing the government has done as a sweetener and a support is opened the wallet across the population. They are making it easier for people to comply and keep them supported for the time being.
Yes, easy, if you break restriction, no handouts for you. Suddenly over 90% compliance like we need.
monkey skipper said:
buffy said:
I think there is a danger of people getting sick of waiting, and I’m not in favour of anarchy. I don’t think the current restriction levels can be maintained for months and months.
One thing the government has done as a sweetener and a support is opened the wallet across the population. They are making it easier for people to comply and keep them supported for the time being.
Easier, but for how long? And there are still many, many people who are going to be in dire straits fairly soon with no income.
buffy said:
I think there is a danger of people getting sick of waiting, and I’m not in favour of anarchy. I don’t think the current restriction levels can be maintained for months and months.
If the public can see progress it might make it a little easier. First step is zero new daily cases. Then let’s try and hold it there. Light at the end of the tunnel etc.
SCIENCE said:
monkey skipper said:
buffy said:
I think there is a danger of people getting sick of waiting, and I’m not in favour of anarchy. I don’t think the current restriction levels can be maintained for months and months.
One thing the government has done as a sweetener and a support is opened the wallet across the population. They are making it easier for people to comply and keep them supported for the time being.
Yes, easy, if you break restriction, no handouts for you. Suddenly over 90% compliance like we need.
I don’t think the handouts apply to 90%.
Hardest part of ease out is how to start back up. Say you have an area, a state, been virus free for six weeks, you restart normal living and then at week seven you get another infection. Is that an immediate threshold or do you allow time for it to be investigated. You find out the person is from interstate so you isolate the state again…for one person? Or the person was community infected but unknown, do you go back to restrictions again, close schools etc. or does it take more than one person if so how many.
First up I’d start with playing cricket again.
buffy said:
I think there is a danger of people getting sick of waiting, and I’m not in favour of anarchy. I don’t think the current restriction levels can be maintained for months and months.
Anarchism has a lot to recommend it. Especially the Humanist type.
buffy said:
SCIENCE said:
monkey skipper said:One thing the government has done as a sweetener and a support is opened the wallet across the population. They are making it easier for people to comply and keep them supported for the time being.
Yes, easy, if you break restriction, no handouts for you. Suddenly over 90% compliance like we need.
I don’t think the handouts apply to 90%.
We didn’t say that, we need 90% compliance, the handouts will help achieve it.
meanwhile the parrots of the false dichotomy continue
https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-08/coronavirus-covid-19-economy-human-life-cost-business-morrison/12130190?pfmredir=sm
We could shut down the economy indefinitely, seal off the borders and pour every ounce of our energy into defeating, with minimal loss of life, a hidden killer — a virus that has cut a swathe through China, Europe, and the United States, and that has gained a foothold here.
Or we could let it rip, carry on with life normally, and simply watch on in horror as the virus wreaks its path of destruction.
The pain would be far more intense, but the duration — of the disease at least — much shorter.
I’m happy to admit that this is not my field and that my suggestions would be next to worthless, and I just hope the government listens to the experts
SCIENCE said:
meanwhile the parrots of the false dichotomy continuehttps://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-08/coronavirus-covid-19-economy-human-life-cost-business-morrison/12130190?pfmredir=sm
We could shut down the economy indefinitely, seal off the borders and pour every ounce of our energy into defeating, with minimal loss of life, a hidden killer — a virus that has cut a swathe through China, Europe, and the United States, and that has gained a foothold here.
Or we could let it rip, carry on with life normally, and simply watch on in horror as the virus wreaks its path of destruction.
The pain would be far more intense, but the duration — of the disease at least — much shorter.
don’t be fooled, what they’re not telling you is when the virus inhabits people the people it inhabits become the killers, the two organism types become essentially one organism by way of hijacking your cells to replicate
some, aren’t particularly keen on the lesson provided, that ideology similarly inhabits people, is internalized by the host, becoming inseparable
transition said:
SCIENCE said:
meanwhile the parrots of the false dichotomy continuehttps://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-08/coronavirus-covid-19-economy-human-life-cost-business-morrison/12130190?pfmredir=sm
We could shut down the economy indefinitely, seal off the borders and pour every ounce of our energy into defeating, with minimal loss of life, a hidden killer — a virus that has cut a swathe through China, Europe, and the United States, and that has gained a foothold here.
Or we could let it rip, carry on with life normally, and simply watch on in horror as the virus wreaks its path of destruction.
The pain would be far more intense, but the duration — of the disease at least — much shorter.
don’t be fooled, what they’re not telling you is when the virus inhabits people the people it inhabits become the killers, the two organism types become essentially one organism by way of hijacking your cells to replicate
some, aren’t particularly keen on the lesson provided, that ideology similarly inhabits people, is internalized by the host, becoming inseparable
I used organism there to mean anything biological that replicates(replicator), including things that can exist outside of host for some period
dv said:
I’m happy to admit that this is not my field and that my suggestions would be next to worthless, and I just hope the government listens to the experts
the experts they hire to tell them what they want to hear or the independent experts who recommend culling of brumbies¿
SCIENCE said:
dv said:
I’m happy to admit that this is not my field and that my suggestions would be next to worthless, and I just hope the government listens to the experts
the experts they hire to tell them what they want to hear or the independent experts who recommend culling of brumbies¿
Yes
dv said:
SCIENCE said:
dv said:
I’m happy to admit that this is not my field and that my suggestions would be next to worthless, and I just hope the government listens to the experts
the experts they hire to tell them what they want to hear or the independent experts who recommend culling of brumbies¿
Yes
At some point people will go back to work but there might be more jobs where employees work from home and a standard.
Call centre staff can also do this if needed to.
People will still need to buy their supplies. Click and collect keeps retailers trading from their bricks and mortar outlets and online shopping keeps the warehouse distributions running.
Banking easily runs online.
Direct care jobs will need vigilance maintained during and afterwards.
monkey skipper said:
dv said:
SCIENCE said:the experts they hire to tell them what they want to hear or the independent experts who recommend culling of brumbies¿
Yes
At some point people will go back to work but there might be more jobs where employees work from home and a standard.
Call centre staff can also do this if needed to.
People will still need to buy their supplies. Click and collect keeps retailers trading from their bricks and mortar outlets and online shopping keeps the warehouse distributions running.
Yes these industries are still operating.
I’d appreciate free public transport to save me some money, risk compensation even
monkey skipper said:
Banking easily runs online.Direct care jobs will need vigilance maintained during and afterwards.
Now would not be a good time for a decent storm, would it.
buffy said:
monkey skipper said:
Banking easily runs online.Direct care jobs will need vigilance maintained during and afterwards.
Now would not be a good time for a decent storm, would it.
We’ve had rain here, washed away corona19….I hope.
Tau.Neutrino said:
buffy said:
monkey skipper said:
Banking easily runs online.Direct care jobs will need vigilance maintained during and afterwards.
Now would not be a good time for a decent storm, would it.
We’ve had rain here, washed away corona19….I hope.
I was thinking in terms of losing electricity. And eftpos. And possibly phone towers.
Are we out of cyclone season?
buffy said:
Tau.Neutrino said:
buffy said:Now would not be a good time for a decent storm, would it.
We’ve had rain here, washed away corona19….I hope.
I was thinking in terms of losing electricity. And eftpos. And possibly phone towers.
Are we out of cyclone season?
I think that’s why Rule has stuffed thousands under his mattress.
buffy said:
Tau.Neutrino said:
buffy said:Now would not be a good time for a decent storm, would it.
We’ve had rain here, washed away corona19….I hope.
I was thinking in terms of losing electricity. And eftpos. And possibly phone towers.
Are we out of cyclone season?
No. Cyclone Harold (messed up Vanuatu and now attacking Fiji) seeded in our waters.
Arts said:
buffy said:
Tau.Neutrino said:We’ve had rain here, washed away corona19….I hope.
I was thinking in terms of losing electricity. And eftpos. And possibly phone towers.
Are we out of cyclone season?
I think that’s why Rule has stuffed thousands under his mattress.
I looked it up. Cyclone season is November to April. But it was late starting this season, I think. Still, might just be a short season, not necessarily a shifted one.
SCIENCE said:
meanwhile the parrots of the false dichotomy continuehttps://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-08/coronavirus-covid-19-economy-human-life-cost-business-morrison/12130190?pfmredir=sm
We could shut down the economy indefinitely, seal off the borders and pour every ounce of our energy into defeating, with minimal loss of life, a hidden killer — a virus that has cut a swathe through China, Europe, and the United States, and that has gained a foothold here.
Or we could let it rip, carry on with life normally, and simply watch on in horror as the virus wreaks its path of destruction.
The pain would be far more intense, but the duration — of the disease at least — much shorter.
on the other microphone, some sense
Mr Hunt said the more successful Australia was in stamping out community transmission, the earlier we could move towards lifting restrictions.
eat that you false dichotomy jackasses
buffy said:
Tau.Neutrino said:
buffy said:Now would not be a good time for a decent storm, would it.
We’ve had rain here, washed away corona19….I hope.
I was thinking in terms of losing electricity. And eftpos. And possibly phone towers.
Are we out of cyclone season?
imagine if we had gone renewable, wind, solar, storage, imagine having savings, stockpiles, imagine listening to experts and being prepared
buffy said:
I think enough noise has been made in that High Court thread now. So I’ll give you something else to chat/argue about.How would be the best way to ease out of the current restrictions, when the time comes?
I’ll start.
I would propose making the first little step be allowing 5 people in outside groups (not inside) but maintaining the 1.5m thing.
Interesting question.
The way I’d like to ease out is:
Restrictions stay in force for everyone who:
No restrictions for anyone else.
mollwollfumble said:
buffy said:
I think enough noise has been made in that High Court thread now. So I’ll give you something else to chat/argue about.How would be the best way to ease out of the current restrictions, when the time comes?
I’ll start.
I would propose making the first little step be allowing 5 people in outside groups (not inside) but maintaining the 1.5m thing.
Interesting question.
The way I’d like to ease out is:
Restrictions stay in force for everyone who:
- has been in contact with a person with coronavirus
- has been in contact with a person who has been in contact with a person who has coronavirus
- has a high temperature
- has a cough
No restrictions for anyone else.
Make it an enforceable requirement that a person after being off work for an illness provides a medically assessed wellness certificate on each occasion prior to recommencing duties.
mollwollfumble said:
buffy said:
I think enough noise has been made in that High Court thread now. So I’ll give you something else to chat/argue about.How would be the best way to ease out of the current restrictions, when the time comes?
I’ll start.
I would propose making the first little step be allowing 5 people in outside groups (not inside) but maintaining the 1.5m thing.
Interesting question.
The way I’d like to ease out is:
Restrictions stay in force for everyone who:
- has been in contact with a person with coronavirus
- has been in contact with a person who has been in contact with a person who has coronavirus
- has a high temperature
- has a cough
No restrictions for anyone else.
The problem with that is:
Some people with coronavirus are asymptomatic, and:
Lots of people have a cough this time of year, caused by anything from a virus to allergies to drier air.
So effectively, you’re still telling everyone to stay home because you just don’t know whether they are carrying the coronavirus or not.
Divine Angel said:
mollwollfumble said:
buffy said:
I think enough noise has been made in that High Court thread now. So I’ll give you something else to chat/argue about.How would be the best way to ease out of the current restrictions, when the time comes?
I’ll start.
I would propose making the first little step be allowing 5 people in outside groups (not inside) but maintaining the 1.5m thing.
Interesting question.
The way I’d like to ease out is:
Restrictions stay in force for everyone who:
- has been in contact with a person with coronavirus
- has been in contact with a person who has been in contact with a person who has coronavirus
- has a high temperature
- has a cough
No restrictions for anyone else.
The problem with that is:
Some people with coronavirus are asymptomatic, and:
Lots of people have a cough this time of year, caused by anything from a virus to allergies to drier air.So effectively, you’re still telling everyone to stay home because you just don’t know whether they are carrying the coronavirus or not.
And, as a lady of a certain age, change of season means I have a variable temperature too…
Divine Angel said:
mollwollfumble said:
buffy said:
I think enough noise has been made in that High Court thread now. So I’ll give you something else to chat/argue about.How would be the best way to ease out of the current restrictions, when the time comes?
I’ll start.
I would propose making the first little step be allowing 5 people in outside groups (not inside) but maintaining the 1.5m thing.
Interesting question.
The way I’d like to ease out is:
Restrictions stay in force for everyone who:
- has been in contact with a person with coronavirus
- has been in contact with a person who has been in contact with a person who has coronavirus
- has a high temperature
- has a cough
No restrictions for anyone else.
The problem with that is:
Some people with coronavirus are asymptomatic, and:
Lots of people have a cough this time of year, caused by anything from a virus to allergies to drier air.So effectively, you’re still telling everyone to stay home because you just don’t know whether they are carrying the coronavirus or not.
> Some people with coronavirus are asymptomatic
Yep. That’s included in the second dot point.
> Lots of people have a cough this time of year
Yep. Stay at home if you do, for whatever reason. You could be spreading pneumonia.
mollwollfumble said:
Divine Angel said:
mollwollfumble said:Interesting question.
The way I’d like to ease out is:
Restrictions stay in force for everyone who:
- has been in contact with a person with coronavirus
- has been in contact with a person who has been in contact with a person who has coronavirus
- has a high temperature
- has a cough
No restrictions for anyone else.
The problem with that is:
Some people with coronavirus are asymptomatic, and:
Lots of people have a cough this time of year, caused by anything from a virus to allergies to drier air.So effectively, you’re still telling everyone to stay home because you just don’t know whether they are carrying the coronavirus or not.
> Some people with coronavirus are asymptomatic
Yep. That’s included in the second dot point.
> Lots of people have a cough this time of year
Yep. Stay at home if you do, for whatever reason. You could be spreading pneumonia.
And if they’re asymptomatic no one knows if they have been in contact with a COVID infection.
I have a cough. It’s not coronavirus. It’s not pneumonia. It’s not a virus. It’s a respiratory irritation from dust. Under normal circumstances, not many people in the population are spreading pneumonia anyway. You’re paranoid.
Divine Angel said:
mollwollfumble said:
Divine Angel said:The problem with that is:
Some people with coronavirus are asymptomatic, and:
Lots of people have a cough this time of year, caused by anything from a virus to allergies to drier air.So effectively, you’re still telling everyone to stay home because you just don’t know whether they are carrying the coronavirus or not.
> Some people with coronavirus are asymptomatic
Yep. That’s included in the second dot point.
> Lots of people have a cough this time of year
Yep. Stay at home if you do, for whatever reason. You could be spreading pneumonia.
And if they’re asymptomatic no one knows if they have been in contact with a COVID infection.
I have a cough. It’s not coronavirus. It’s not pneumonia. It’s not a virus. It’s a respiratory irritation from dust. Under normal circumstances, not many people in the population are spreading pneumonia anyway. You’re paranoid.
prove it
Not promoting the following, but it is an interesting existential possibility.
One alternative is to ease out in reverse. Keep the people with coronavirus outdoors (in the fresh air) and the people most at risk of dying from a coronavirus infection locked away from them. People in danger from the mild form of coronavirus found in Australia are only the old and those with a pre-existing deadly disease.
It’s the old idea of keeping grandpa in the playpen while toddler roams free.
LOL. Don’t …. think it would work.
EU unveils virus exit plan, hoping to avoid more chaos
By LORNE COOK, Associated Press 1 hour ago
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, right, and European Council President Charles Michel participate in a media conference on the European Union response to the COVID-19 crisis at EU headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, April 15, 2020.
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union moved Wednesday to head off a chaotic and potentially disastrous easing of restrictions that are limiting the spread of the coronavirus, warning its 27 nations to move very cautiously as they return to normal life and base their actions on scientific advice.
With Austria, the Czech Republic and Denmark already lifting some lockdown measures, the EU’s executive arm, the European Commission, rushed out its roadmap for members of the world’s biggest trade bloc to coordinate an exit from the lockdowns, which they expect should take at least a few months and involve large-scale testing.
Some 80,000 people have now died in Europe from the disease — about two-thirds of the global toll — according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. The commission said those scientists should be relied upon to guide national exit strategies in the weeks and months to come.
Brussels is deeply concerned about the damage that could be done if each EU nation charts its own course, given the panic that ensued after the pandemic first spread in Italy, with unannounced border closures that sparked massive traffic jams and export bans that deprived hard-hit countries of medical equipment.
And the EU is very much split in its approach. Despite the ravages the illness is wreaking on their economies, France this week renewed its lockdown until May 11, and Belgium appears headed in a similar direction. Spain also recently renewed its state of emergency for the second time for an additional two weeks.
“This is not – it is not – a signal that confinement, containment measures can be lifted as of now,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters, highlighting the need for clear communication across the bloc as countries emerge from quarantine.
Warning that lifting restrictions will “unavoidably lead to a corresponding increase in new cases,” the commission said that this should only start when the spread of the disease has dropped significantly and for some time, and when hospitals can cope with more patients.
While the commission, which proposes EU laws and ensures that they are enforced, does not spell out exactly how EU countries should make the transition, the roadmap does underline that their “action should be gradual.”
“A lack of coordination in lifting restrictive measures risks having negative effects for all member states and creating political friction,” the document said.
Business operations should be phased in by sectors, based on things like how much can be done over the internet, the economic importance of the industry, or the kinds of shift work that could be introduced. Social distancing should be maintained and there should be no general return to work, it says.
Shops could gradually reopen, with possible limits on the number of people who could enter, and school could start again, although the commission recommends smaller classes to allow students to work at a safer distance from each other. Lunch breaks could be set at different times and internet learning should be preferred where possible.
Brussels says a gap of around one month should be left between any steps to monitor their impact.
Elderly people should be protected for longer, while restaurants, bars and cinemas could resume business with restricted opening hours and limits on the number of people who could enter. Measures blocking mass gatherings like festivals and concerts would be among the last to be lifted.
For most people, coronavirus symptoms clear up in two to three weeks. But for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.
The commission also recommends that virus testing be massively ramped up and done in the same way across the bloc. It says data collection, including through apps on mobile phones, “can help interrupt infection chains and reduce the risk of further virus transmission” and should be done on a voluntary basis.
With a vaccine being the only silver bullet against the disease, the EU is injecting funds into research to fast-track the hunt for such a miracle drug, and is working with the European Medicines Agency to make it easier to conduct clinical trials and slash any red tape that might stop it going on sale.
“This is our collective best shot at beating the virus,” von der Leyen said, and she announced an online pledging conference to help raise funds for the effort on May 4.