European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks via video conference into a press room at EU headquarters in Brussels, Oct 28, 2020. (PHOTO / AP)

BRUSSELS — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called on the European Union member states to shoulder responsibility at all levels to fight the second wave of COVID-19.

Von der Leyen on Oct 28 announced new proposals made by the commission to enhance EU level coordination to address the health crisis, including improving the flow of information for informed decision-making, establishing more effective and rapid testing, and making full use of contact tracing and warning apps across borders.

Remotely attending a press conference and joined by Belgian microbiologist Peter Piot, von der Leyen underlined the necessity of wearing masks, hand hygiene, avoiding crowds and indoor spaces lacking ventilation.

As a special advisor to von der Leyen, Piot acknowledged that the European containment measures were “relaxed too much” after the first wave was largely under control in the summer.

He said around 60 percent of Europeans wear masks on average, which is not enough to protect people from infections.

Among the new measures was a recommendation of testing strategies. Promoting rapid antigen tests, the commission allocated 100 million euros (US$117.51 million) for purchasing and delivering such test kits to member states.

Since the widely used polymerase chain reaction test takes longer to get results, the rapid test could be a solution where mass testing is needed or when time is of the essence. However, rapid tests are not as effective on asymptomatic patients, thus their use could be complementary, von der Leyen elaborated.

A recently launched European Gateway Service provides a platform to ultimately link all national contact tracing apps, said von der Leyen. Italy, Germany and Ireland are connected to the Gateway and 18 more national apps, either already operational or in the process of being developed, will be connected in November, she noted.

Emphasis was also placed on vaccination. While the commission has, on behalf of the 27-member bloc, signed contracts with three major vaccine producers to ensure required quantities and general efficacy, both von der Leyen and her adviser said the safety of vaccines must also be tested and monitored, during the development phase and after they are put to use, preferably at the EU level.

But Piot expressed worries about public trust of a vaccine, saying recent data showed that up to 25 percent of people said they will not be vaccinated.

By the end of the year, “we will know, at least, how effective some of these vaccines will be”, said the microbiologist, who hailed the global action to develop COVID-19 vaccines as an “unprecedented scientific effort.”

According to the World Health Organization’s website, as of Oct 19, there were 198 COVID-19 vaccine candidates being developed worldwide, and 44 of them were in clinical trials. Countries including Germany, France, China, Russia, Britain and the United States are racing to find a vaccine.

In France, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Oct 28 that the country will go into national lockdown on Oct 30 to stem the second COVID-19 wave.

France went into lockdown during the epidemic’s first wave in mid-March when COVID-19 patients overwhelmed hospitals.

But nurseries, primary schools and middle schools will remain open, said Macron, arguing that “our children would not be lastingly deprived of education, of contact with the school system.”

In Germany, federal and state governments will introduce sweeping contact restrictions on Nov 2, the German Press Agency reported.

Only members of the same household plus those of an additional household with a maximum of ten people can meet in public.

Entertainment and leisure activities would be largely prohibited. Theaters and concert venues as well as bars and restaurants must close until the end of the month.