newsitems

*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/(Partly UpDated)- EU Citizens may soon face a Risky Paradox : After having been practicaly Abandoned, withOut Any Protection, vis a vis Massive Infections imported from NW Italy's initial Deadly Virus' Hotspot, since several EU Governments did Not Monitor at all the endangered Borders, (Contrary to what China succesfully did vis a vis its Wuhan Region, similar to Lombardy, which was Tightly Quarantined: See http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/delaytoprotecteupeoplefromvirus.html, etc), Now they are threatened to be ...themselves Monitored in their EveryDay Private Lives, Spied even on their Individual Movements and Contacts, Health condition, etc., under Pretext to limit a Further Spread of the Virus !

- Already, CoE Assembly's new President, Rik Daems from Belgium (Liberal), Warned, on this occasion, against a Risk to "Open the Door to an <<Orwellian>> Future of Constant Personal Surveillance, Following our Every Move, for UnKnown and UnAccountable Purposes", as he said in a Press Release just send to "Eurofora" by PACE's Press Service in Strasbourg, (See also Infra).

- Indeed, as independent Web Freedom Watchdog "Electronic Frontier Foundation" NGO cautioned, currently, "Governments around the World are demanding Extraordinary new Surveillnce Powers", allegedly "to fight the Virus", Urging also a Close Scrutiny on New Links between some Governments and certain Private Companies that popped up out of the Pandemic, (f.ex. Telephone Companies, Internet access Providers, SpyWare Manufactors, Social Medias Networks, etc).

+ In Addition, World Famous WhistleBlower Edward Snowden, who risked his Job and Freedom in order to Denounce a Global Massive Surveillance mecanism by Secret Services, (Comp. Snowden's Replies to "Eurofora" Questions earlier at: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/snowdenfriendshelpwhistleblowers.html, http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/snowdenlaughonlongmuellerspyingtrump.html, etc) has just Warned that, even "Five years later the coronavirus is gone, this data's still available to them — they start looking for new things... They already know what you're Looking at on the Internet, they already know where your Phone is Moving, now they know what your Heart rate is" (f.ex. by Spying a "Fitness Tracker", etc). "What happens when they start to interMix these, and apply artificial intelligence to them ?"

- Yesterday, CoE's Rapporteur on WhistleBlowers, and vice-President of the French National Assembly, Sylvain Wasserman, from Strasbourg's area, (Comp. Earlier Replies by Wasserman to "Eurofora"s questions, f.ex., at: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/whistleblowersineuandcoe.html, +http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/snowdenfriendshelpwhistleblowers.html, http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/coerapporteurforassangeprotection.html, etc), stressed that, as a matter of Principle, Nowadays "It is Vital we improve the Protection of Whistle-blowers both during and after the CoronaVirus Crisis". Because, "Times of Crisis show that we need them to Safeguard our fundamental Rights such as Freedom of Expression and Information, but we also need them to enable us to prepare for and manage such situations more effectively". Thus, inter alia, “Whistle-blowers can also Help to Prevent or Correct State Failures during the current Crisis. They are therefore an Essential cog in the wheel of our Democracies, and their Protection is a Measure of how Democratic we are".

=> In Consequence, Wasserman "fully Support(ed) the Initiative taken by NGOs to ...Improve the Protection of Whistle-Blowers ot only during the Crisis, but Also once it is behind us", including "Transarency International", the "European Federation of Journalists" and the "Media Development Center", "Government Accountability Project", the Universities of Griffith (Australia), Maastricht, Middlesex, Ryerson and Greenwich, "International Bar Association", "European Centre for Press and Media Freedom", "EuroCadres", "European Public Service Union", "European Organisation of Military Associations and Trade Unions", "Council of European Professional and Managerial Staff", "WhistleBlowing International Network", etc., who recently launched a "Coalition to make WhistleBlowing Safe, during COVID-19 and Beyond".

- "The signatories ... call(ed) on all public authorities and institutions to Protect those who Report or expose the Harms, Abuses and serious Wrongdoing that arise during this period of Crisis caused by the COVID19 Pandemic", and "encourage(d) all Citizens and Workers to participate in ensuring our Governments, Corporate institutions and markets remain Accountable, and in Defending the Human Rights and freedoms", as "the Need for regular and Reliable Information", as well as "the importance of Accountability" are Now "Brought into Stark Relief", since "Speak about Threats to Public Health and Safety, Corruption and other Abuses", added to "their Disclosures", "are Vital to Preventing Major Disasters and reducing the Impacts of the crisis ..., especially on the most Vulnerable members of society and our Democratic systems", particularly "when Decisions are taken in Emergency conditions, often Away from Democratic Scrutiny", since "the use of Extraordinary Powers by governments, withOut proper public Oversight and Transparency creates a tangible Risk of overreach and potential Misuse".

- Indeed, "we have Already seen examples of Wrongdoing and Mismanagement in our public Institutions, commercial Markets and Business as a result of COVID-19. Emerging areas of Concern include Health System Capacity and delivery" (f.ex. Masks, ICT, Ventilators, etc), "public Procurement, violations of health and safety and labor law, inequitable and ill-prepared global Supply chains, ... and significant Violations of personal Privacy rights at scale, through the Digital Tracking of individuals", the NGOs Denounced.

Already, f.ex., New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo notoriously called the CoronaVirus' Crisis as "Worse than 9/11" Massive Barbaric Killings of Thousands of innocent Civilian People, and everybody knows that this was soon Followed, in the recent Past, by various US Government's Exceptional Measures, including, particularly, on Mass and Individual Spying, (that many Criticized as Excessive), etc...

=> F.ex., in South Korea several massive attempts to Track Individuals, in relation to the Virus, through the GeoLocalisation of their Mobile Phones were reportedly made, including SMS Alerts for Contacts with Infected People, while in Taiwan Police is autiomaticaly alerted if Quarantined patients move Outside of their Homes, and from China come also Reports about Individual Mobile Codes being Tracked when Entering several Private Residences, Public Areas, Super Markets, Collective Gardens, etc, added to Singapore's SmartPhone App Tracking People who may have been Exposed.

- In Iran, the Government reportedly pushed Citizens to download an App available at Google's Play Store which registered their device, collEcting Contact and Location details, (but, when this was Denounced by a Researcher, Google removed that app, and the Iranian Government blamed the Officials responsible for that, ensuring the People that No Private Lines were crossed)...

- At the West, already in Poland citizens under Quarantine have to download a government App that mandates they respond to periodic requests for "Selfies".  The UK Government is reportedly talking with Private Companies about Phone and Contacts Tracking, without being clear if this might concern Individuals who are Quarantined or Everybody, using Private Data or only Anonymized and Aggregated Data, Secretly or Openly. USA's Kansas Governor reportedly uses Phone Data of Infected People and GeoLocalisation, although it seems that those Data might, eventually, be Anonymised and Aggregated. Germany and some Other EU Countries are, in parallel, reportedly planning to use also Mobile Phone Data, but Only Anonymized and Aggregated for Maps. However, in Israel, a new Law has just allowed the Government to impose Mobile Phone Tracking of Infected People, and Alert those Contacting them, as well as to Enforce Quarantine Orders. But on Canada much Worse Concerns were expressed when controverial "Socialist" Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reportedly "did Not Exlude" that the Government might use telecom Data to Track all Canadians' compliance with Pandemic Measures in the foreseable future, (Expanding that issue, soon After French-speaking Quebec's Premier, Francois Legault, had recently spoken about Tracking past Movements of Infected People, by using their Phones). In France, President Macron is due to announce new Measures on Monday, and many consider that he may include also Mobile Phone's Data related to Massive Confinement, (as, Already, its Government reportedly Tested a relevant App, and the JHA Ministry has just Started to Invite People to Inform its Website about their planned individual Movements, by filling a special Form with their Mobile Phone Numbers and Personal Data, while promising that these won't be stored !)...   

+ EU Commissioner in charge of the Common Market, Thierry Breton, from France, (UpDated), has just reportedly spoken about such possible Mobile Phone Tracking linked to the Virus throughout the EU, but vowed that it should be Not Linked to any "Sanctions", be "Voluntary", and used "Only by Health Authorities", under "Conditions" due to be determined asap. In Parallel, EU Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee's President, Juan Fernandez Lopez Aguilar, (a "Socialist" MEP from Spain), stressed that, at any case, "even in these Difficult Times, EU's basic Rules on Personal Data Protection and "E-Privacy" should remain in force and be respected".

=> It's in this Fast-Moving and Slipery-slope Context, that PanEuropean CoE Assembly's new President, Rik Daems, (a "Liberal" from Belgium : Comp. Supra), noted that, since "Until enough people have been Vaccinated against this CoronaVirus", (i.e. more than a Year Later, according to Technocrats, while Simple and Fast-Track eventual Treatments, as HCQ, are still Blocked f.ex. in France and elsehere), "we must Limit its Spread. ONE" (Not the Only) "Way is to Track-and-trace Infected people and those whom they Meet".

- "But this has Huge Privacy Implications and will Need very Careful Regulation to ensure respect for Human rights and the rule of Law". Because, "in defeating one evil, we must Not open the door to an Orwellian future", he Warned.

=> "Fortunately, we have common (Pan-)European standards (for all the 47 CoE's Member States, including Russia) on this,” he optimistically observed. In particular :  

- (1) “The European Convention on Human Rights requires Surveillance measures to have a Legal basis and be Necessary and Proportionate to their Goal", placed under ECHR's Judicial Monitoring.

 + (2) Moreover, "Automated data collection, Processing and Storage should satisfy the standards of the recently modernised Convention 108+" on Personal Data Protection.

++ (3) "States must Ensure that these requirements are Met BEFORE Track-and-trace Measures are Introduced, and" (probably most Important) "must establish Public TRUST in them, FROM THE OUTSET”, he urged.

+++ (4) Last, but not least, “Exceptional Crises justify Exceptional Measures, But they must be LIMITED to the OBJECTIVE, in SCOPE and TIME and comply with Fundamental Rights" of the People, Instead of a "Constant Personal Surveillance, Following our Every Move, for UnKnown and UnAccountable Purposes", President Daems stressed today.

=> It's in these circumstances that, inter alia, French mainstream Center-Right Opposition "Republican" Party (ChristianDemocrats/EPP) Top Official Bruno Retailleau has just send a Letter to President Macron Warning him that such a Political Decision, as an eventual imposal of Massive "Tracking", (even on any Citizens' access to his/her Workplace, a Doctor, Grocery Store, a short Promenade solo, or to Help an Elderly person, etc), would be "Formidably Risky" and complicated !

- In particular, for Retailleau, it would also become Useless, if France was UnAble to ensure a Massive prior Testing (of that Virus' Infections), as well as a Generalized use of protective Masks", (a Big Controversy here, as French Officials have, until recently, Claimed that normal Masks would Not be Appropriate for Citizens,  But Reserved Only to relevant Public Authorities' Agents : Medical staff, Police, etc)...

+=> "I am Asking him (President Macron) to provide Guarantees on Security and (Personal) Liberty", and to carefully measure all Immplications, Retailleau stressed, shortly Before the forthcoming Official Announcements.

Naturally, it Remains to be seen Whether the relevant National and European Legal and Political bodies, as well as International Human Rights Organisations, and, (mainly) the Majority of the People, could be Convinced, or Not.

Particularly when Crucial Local (2020) and Regional (2021) Elections are Soon followed, in a straight line, even by Decisive Presidential and Legislative Elections (2022) in France, (well Before the Culmination of EU-wide Elections on 2024)...

(../..)

("Draft-News")

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*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/(Partly UpDated)- In what has become the Capital of the World's EpiCenter of Deadly Virus COVID-19 : Strasbourg's "Great East" Region in France/EU, in the middle of a surprizing Record-High Number of Victims Nowadays, Groups of Medical Doctors and MPs (including EU Parliament's MEP, Senators, etc, as well as a former Health and Foreign Minister : See Infra), have suddenly Urged the Public Authorities to allow the Freedom to immediately Start using the Controversial but Promising Treatment of HydroxyChloroQuine (alias HCQ), under simple Private Medical Doctor's prescription, (currenntly still Prohibited in France, as also in many other Countries), in order to Urgently try to Save threatened Human Lives, withOut still Waiting for further Confirmations by various on-going more Tests, for this and:or other Drugs, in Europe, China, the USA, etc., (See Infra).  

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EU has notoriously become the World's "EpiCenter" on this Virus, according to the WHO, Both in the Number of Infected People, and, (much More) in that of Deaths, (even if the USA cases recently grow Fast), as WHO's and ECDC's overall Graphics show very Clearly, (See attached Screenshots).

Inside the EU, just on 3 April, France (where Strasbourg's Region is the Biggest Hotspot) added 1.053 more Deaths in total, i.e. OutNumbering even Italy, which had Less : "only" around 764, (and almost Equaling USA, with 1.061 Deaths, But inside a Larger Population of 350 Millions)... For April 4, WHO registered a total of 2.003 more Deaths in France, while Spain (the 2nd runner in Europe) had just 932... (etc).

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In France, the Most Affected is Strasbourg's area of Alsace and Region of the "Great East", (Host of PanEuropean CoE, EU Parliament's full Plenary Sessions, ECHR, EuroCorps Army HQ, Schengen's Secretariat, EU Ombudsperson, etc). "Eurofora" had Warned, as Early as since February 22, that the Neighbouring North-West Italy's initial Virus Hotspot was Threatening to hit "EU's Franco-German Core", (See: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/deadlyvirusheadstoeucore.html, etc). and this became soon true, (since, Scandalously, Not any Measure of Containment wasN't ever taken vis a vis the Borders to NW Italy, Contrary to what China did vis a vis Wuhan : See http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/delaytoprotecteupeoplefromvirus.html, etc), Heavily Affecting Strasbourg's Region, in France, and Germany's Lânder of Bavaria and Baden-Wurtemerg, Nearby, which are Adjacent to NW Italy and Switzerland.

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Already, inter alia, f.ex, Strasbourg's Region, on March 16, had More cases of Infections than ...Milan itself ! (See relevant Graphic, attached herewth). And, inside France, its Region of Great East notoriously became the Most Affected Region of the Country, (See Graphics), and was Recently Visited by President Macron, who inspected an new Army Hospital there, for that reason, just before the Latest EU Summit of March 26, which was focused on the Fight against the Virus, (See: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/euchinausarussiag20onvirus.html, etc). Still, even Today, Strasbourg's Region has a total of Deaths Bigger from that of ...New York, USA's Biggest Hotspot : 1.402 compared to 1.280...

(Strasbourg's Region was submerged by Virus' Spread from Nearby NW Italy right from the Start : An Old but Explicit MAP published by "Le Monde" at an Earlier stage)

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The Situation has become so Hard, that Infected and Sick People canNot Find Care in Strasbourg area's Hospitals, no more, so that they are Evacuated Elsewhere, Transfered by ...Military Airplanes or Special Trains into Various Other French Regions, (mainly at the South and/or West), but also in Other EU Countries, as Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Czech Republic, etc., i.e., far Away from their Families, (as pointed out, with "Emotion", also the President of that "Great East" Region, John Rottner, a Medical Urgentist himself, who had Returned back to his Job, on a Part-Time basis, in order to Help Sick People, but has just been Infected himself by the Virus)...

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Moreover, an apparently growing Scandal looms around vulnerable Old People, Many of them reportedly abandoned in Special Facilities, Out of Hospitals, lacking sufficient Staff, and Deprived of Intensive Care and/or Ventilators notoriously Necesary in order to Fight against that Virus, according to some Vague and/or Obscure yet Criteria to choose Who would Benefit from that Crucial Medical Equipments, or Not, and When, to the point that even Legal Complaints have just been lodged at the Supreme Administrative Court in oder to Oblige the Government to Clarify its Policy on this Tragic Issue. USA's "Washington Times" have just published an Article noting that in China Priority is given to those who Risk most of all to Loose their Life, But the Contrary seems to prevail, in real practice, Elsewhere..., making Revolted Citizens to Denounce ... "Hitler-like Methods" (sic !), as the Numbers of Dead grow too Fast in that Vulnerable Group, confined mainly in "EPHAD" Establishments. Nowadays, Strasbourg's Newspaper "DNA", even found that for Virus Diagnostic Tests to Old People kept in Special Facilities, Out of Hospitals, some Authorities prepared to use ..."Veterinary" staff (usually dealing with Dogs and Cats) !...

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=> It's in such Circumstances, that some Collectives of Medical Doctors, mainly from Strasbourg's area Alsace (including an MP from President Macron's Liberal Party), followed by Many National MPs, Senators, and EU Parliament's MEP also from Strasbourg's Region, of the mainstream Center-Right Opposition Party of the "Republicans"/ChristianDemocrats-EPP, published these Days Urgent Calls to the Government to Allow to Infected People the Freedom to take from their Private Doctor Medical Prescriptions to use the Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) or Chloroquine-based Treatments (with Azithromycin and Zinc), that Many notoriously consider as offfering Good Chances to efficiently Face the Virus, (including, f.ex., some Chinese Medical Researchers, French Professor Didier Raoult, USA's President Don Trump, etc).

Pointing mainly to the Fact that such a "Simple", already Available, and even "Cheap" Solution for a much Needed Medical Treatment, seems, indeed, to have a Real Potential to eventually Help Win the Fight against that Virus, (particularly by Strengthening the Human Immunity System, etc), they all oberve, also, that "there is No Time to Loose", f.ex. still Waiting for various Time-Wasting "Tests", while too Many People are being Killed Each Day from that Horrible Virus, (Comp. Numbers cited Supra).

Thus, a Group of Doctors (mainly from Strasbourg's area Alsace), urged to Allow, at least those Medical Workers, who have been themselves Infected by the Virus, to Try their Chances by using HCQ... Another, Similar Group of Medical Doctors, also from here, Denounced as "a Scandal" the current Prohibition to prescribe HCQ to infected Citizens against the Virus, and launched an Internet Petition for the Reconnaissance of such a Basic Right for the People to ask their Private Doctor to give tham that Medicine, (naturally taking all due Precautions for Human Health).

MP Patrick Hetzel, together with a Collective of Many other "Republican" MPs and Senators, (Comp. Supra), including Strasbourg's EU Parliament's MEP Anne Sanders, urged the Government to declare Strasbourg's area of Alsace as a "Sinistered" Area, notoriously hit by the Virus much More than all Others, (Comp. Supra), so that it could "Exceptionaly" authorize the Medical use of HCQ at least Here, in an attempt to Try to Save Human Lives, which obviously Need some Urgent Measures of Protection.

They were, Later, joined even by former Minister of Health, and f. Foreign Minister, Philippe Douste-Blazy, who just Published another Web Petition at "Change.org", urging, together with other Medical Doctors like him, the Freedom to Prescribe HCQ to People affected by the Virus, throughout all France, given the Urgency, during a very Deadly "War", which does Not leave any luxe to Loose more Time, still Waiting for Longer and/or UnCertain/Doubtful Tests : Already, there are important Indications that HCQ, if it's administered Early enough, could really Help to Face, quite efficiently, that Virus,  as well as several Scientific "Studies", and relevant "Measures" taken or prepared in Various Other Countries, accross the World, from Europe to China and USA, etc, which Advance in this Direction, they note.

By a Timely Coincidence, USA's "Washington Times" has just Published an Article on a Recent International Poll, which concluded that a net Majority of Medical Doctors, in Many Countries accross the World, considers HCQ as the Best Available Treatment against the Virus.

Many People's understandable Frustration, in this regard, seems to be due Not Only to the Crucial Risk of Losing a Fast-Growing Number of innocent Human Lives, but Also to the Fact that the Alternative Solution of finding an efficient  "Vaccine", currently seems to be practicaly Postponed for Too much Later, probably even for ... "After 1,5 Year", at Best, i.e. likely due to still Temporize until the "Next Season" (sic !) of 2020-2021, as an Eminent USA White House "Coronavirus" Expert Team Member, Dr. Fauci, told Reporters in a recent Press-point with US President Don Trump. Dr. Fauci has been Chairing an Important Medical Research Organisation in the USA specialized on Infectious Diseases, (after having been Appointed at the Federal Administration, initially by "Socialist" former US President Carter), and, himself, (coming from a Family of Pharmaceutical  Drug-store Owners), has reportedly dedicated his Professional Career, all the way Since 1984 up to 2020 (sic !) into still Seaching a Vaccine against the HIV, that has Not Yet been Discovered until Nowadays !...

On the Contrary, Meanwhile, US Health Secretary Alex Azar, (a Conservative Lawyer, previously hired by Famous late Supreme Court Judge Scalia, and Afterwards appointed by former US President GWBush, a Republican Conservative, followed nowadays also by President Don Trump), announced, on this same occasion, that USA had just "Secured 30 Millions tablets from Sandoz and 1 Million tablets from Bayer of HCQ and ChloroQuine, which are potential COVID-19 Treatments", as he pointed out...

But things went Nasty, when US White House Anti-CoronaVirus Team Coordinator, Dr. Deborah Brix, (a Long-Time cooperator of Dr. Fauci, and herself apointed, by former "Socialist" US President Barack Hussein Obama, back on 2014, as his Anti-HIV Ambasador accross the World), High-Lighted some Incredible "Models" of Experts' Previsions and Hypothesis about ... "1,1 to 2,2 Millions" possible Victims of the Virus, if adequate Containement Measures were Not taken at all, and, ...at least, 100.000 up to 220.000 Deaths (sic !), Only inside the USA, Even if such Containment Measures were applied... Given the Fact that in Europe that Virus is much More Deadly than Anywhere else in the World (Comp. Supra), one can easily Imagine what Huge Mass Massacre would correspond here to such an incredible "Experts" "Model" of Previsions !

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=> In such a Context, it's obviously Inevitable that  many People's understandable Frustration turned towards the already Available, HCQ Medical Treatment against the Virus, (Comp. Supra), as a matter of Urgency, Despite ImPerfect, yet, Verifications, but given the existence of several Encouraging Facts, in order to Avoid further Deadly Delays.

HCQ's Opponents, reacted, inter alia, also by apparently Exagerating a long series of alleged Dangerous Counter-Indications, (particularly about the Heart, etc), that Professor Raoult dissipated by simply calling the People to "Avoid Self-Medication", but, on the Contrary, always Follow "Doctor's Orders" faithfully. While Douste-Blazy asked to Stop Exagerating by painting HSQ "as if it was Poisoned"...

More important : He Warned that the 1st Stage (in 15 Days time) of some current Tests on HCQ, as one among 6 possible Medical Treatments against the Virus, would probably show Bad Results, because the Organizers had Chosen, as Cobayes, some Infected Persons already with Serious Adverse Symptoms, while, on the Contrary, the Efficiency of HCQ required to be given "at an Early Stage", when the First Symptoms are still quite Begnine.             

Current French/EU Tests on HCQ may seem probably Compromised or even Doomed, for at least 3 reasons : (a) They are reportedly focused on seriously Advanced Patients, already at a Crucial Situation, while, on the Contrary, HCQ main Supporters Focus mainly on Prevention/Initial Stage Patients, (particularly in order to use Zinc for Anti-Corps development by Stimulating the Immune System). (b) Apparently, they include some Harsh Critics of Dr. Didier Raoult, the principal French Supporter of HCQ. In Addition, HCQ Supporters are often presented as having an alleged "Anti-System" profile (even if, in fact, this is Not always True), so that the Establishment (which Controls those Tests) Risks to have a Negative Reflex. (c) Reportedly, they use a "Double Blind" Method, where Nobody Knows who takes HCQ Treatment, and who takes simple Placebo, (Not even the Medics !), so that it appears, a priori, Difficult to knowingly establish 2 Equivalent Groups, with Similar Age, Health, Personality/Social status (etc) Characteristics. + Last, but not least, the 15 Days reportedly left in order to arrive to Conclusions, might Not be Enough, (even if some speak about "6 Weeks", something which seems Tragically too Long, when many Hundreds/Thousands of People Die each Day)...

For the Rest, it's absolutely Natural, and even Necessary, that such Tests (as EU's "Discovery" does) Extend also to Other possible Treatments, (as Remdesivir, etc), because Nothing should Stop the eventual Discovery of a New and fully Efficient, (as well as anodyne) Treatment of the Virus COV-3.

But some fierce Opponents to HCQ go Too Far in their Rejection, even Accusing HCQ's Fans for a so-called ..."Scientific Populism" (sic !), Calling "Citizens" participating in debates on Scientiic Choices to "Learn Methodology" of Science, and Reject their alleged "Biais" or "Beliefs", (etc), while others boasted that "Science is Not for the People, But for Scientists !", apparently Confusing between petty Technocrats and Real Intellectuals, as also Underestimating the potential of a fully-fledged, modernized Democracy, etc.

Last, but not least, it canNot be Excluded a priori, that some might, eventually, prefer a, comparatively, "Slow" Exit from that Virus' Crisis, while Others would aspire for a "Fast" one, eventualy for Opposed Political Aims, (not always easy to admit in Public)...

Something like that might Also explain the otherwise incomprehensible Deadly Scandal to Leave the initial Hotspot at NW Italy totaly Free to Hit, First of all, the Neighbouring French Strasbourg's Region, and, Later-on, Germany's Länder of Bavaria and Baden-Wurtemberg, Both Heavily Infected Later-on, withOut taking, meanwhile, Any "Containement" Measure at the Borders, Contrary to what China did Succesfully vis a vis the Wuhan Region, (See, inter alia, also, f.ex. : ..., etc).

Everybody knows, by the way, that USA is currently engaged in a "Hot" Electoral Fight for the Election of its Future President on November 2020, while the EU seems partly Divided on a Key point of Economic/Financial policy after BREXIT, and China's Government had just Opposed its own (and USA's) BioTech Establishment, by Punishing a Maverick Doctor who had Practiced Heritable Genetic Manipulations to Human Embryos  Transmissible to Future Generations from 3 Babies secretly born "Modified", Triggering Grave Risks against Humanity, (See: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/chinacondemnsheritablegeneediting.html), etc.

Meanwhile, a Striking Number of various Key Politicians, mainly of the Right Side of the Political Spectrum has been hit by the Virus, until now : Christianemocrat/EPP German Chancelor Angie Merkel narrowly Escaped reently, but Conservative British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was Infected and obliged to enter into a Hospital, while 5 Republican Senators (including the famous Rand Paul) were also hit in the USA, making President Trump lose his Majority in the Senate precisely at the moment of Voting a 2 Trillions $ Package Bill against the Virus' Crisis, and, thus, Obliging him to Accept a series of Amendments serving the Left's Interests (of the Democratic Party) ; even Strasbourg Region "Great East"'s President, John Rottner, a mainstream Center-Right Opposition Leader, of the Republican/ChristianDemocrat-EPP Party, due to run in the forthcoming 2021 French Regional Elections, was also Infected by the Virus (Comp. Supra), shortly after revealing that he had Vainly attempted to Warn French President Macron, since the 1st Marh 2020, of the Deadly Threat arriving then from NW Italy (Comp. Supra) ; while a German Lander's Economy Minister, ChristianDemocrat/EPP reportedly committed Suicide, and France's Patrick Devedjian, a former many times Minister, and f. Head of the mainstrem Center-Right Party "UMP" (currently "the Republicans"), nowadays re-Elected MP and President of Department at Haut-des-Seine, unforgetable Minister of f. President Sarkozy for the Economic Stimulus against the Global Crisis of 2008-2010, and a strong Critic of Turkey's Controversial and UnPopular EU bid, suddenly Died at a Hospital by the Virus, at 75 years of age, (i.e. Similar to the 3 Candidates for USA's Presidency of 2020-2024 : Sanders, Biden and Trump); etc...

(../..)

("Draft-News")

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*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- By a Timely "Coincidence", Both the EU and USA, as well as China and Russia, even G20, etc., reviewed, at Leaders' level, their Strategies against Deadly CoronaVirus' Pandemic, this Same Week. From a Comparison, at First Sight, (provided by "Eurofora"), appear Interesting insights, that a More Deep and Thorough Analysis could complete and develop further.

EU Leaders held a specific Summit on CoronaVirus the 26th of March, by Video-Conference, shortly after Member States had already announced relevant National Measures. The Next Day, on March 27, USA President Trump signed an Exceptional "Cares" Bill, and held a relevant, long Press Conference at the White House. On that Same Day (27/3/2020), Chinese President Xi Jinping chaired  a Key meeting of the Communist Party's Political Bureau, after speaking also at its Standing Committee since March 25. Russia had Earlier convened Top Governemental Meetings on Medical and Economic Measures since the 24th of March, followed by a Wider, comprehensive "Address to the Nation" by President Putin, on March 25. In parallel, an Extraordinary G20 Summit convened via Video-Conference, also on March 26, made an official "Statement on COVID-19".

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* The EU, (which has Already become the "Epicenter" of the World in CoronaVirus' cases, and even Deaths, since Early March 2020), still Explicitly Focused on "Limiting the Spread" of the virus, as the Latest EU Leaders' Summit stressed, (See: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/differentstrategiesagainstvirus.html, etc), while some Key Leaders Warned that "the Worse lies Ahead".

On the Contrary, Despite a Recent "Explosion" of Infections and Death cases in the USA, President Trump, (who had Already eyed the "Slowing the Spread" target Earlier, since 3 March), seems Now Hesitating between Still "Flattening the Curve" (See also: ..., etc), and "see that Curve start Heading Down in the Other direction, at a Minimum", already "Hoping" that a Way Out of the Virus might emerge "Sooner" than several "Months", as he said at his Press Conference, promising a Reply on Strategy just after a Key Experts' Meeting scheduled for next "Tuesday".

As for China, (where WHO Recently saw an encouraging "Hope" for the World), After having been Hit by that Virus the First, and Hard, at its Central Core area of Wuhan, since December 2019, it is Nowadays notoriously Preparing People to progressively "Return Back to Work", aiming "to consolidate and sustain the Positive Trend in Containing the Epidemic", in order "to Ensure" that it "Keeps Moving steadily in a Positive Direction", (while Also "preventing infections influx from Abroad and epidemic Rebound at home", as it's Recently "Facing increased Pressure of Imported cases").

Neighbouring Russia, (which hadn't, during a Long Period of Time, but Only ...2 Infections, of Chinese Citizens), Soon After "Importing" Dozens of Virus cases '"from Abroad" Later on, mainly Via the EU, Now it seeks "to Prevent the Threat of a Rapid Spread of the Disease", while still "Managing to Contain" it, since Moscow "canNot Fence itself Off from the Threat" completely, as President Putin Warned, (particularly since "a Million People have Arrived in Russia over the past 10 Days" from "Abroad", as Officials point out, speaking of "Risks", for which, Experts do Not Exclude any "Scenario" yet).

+ "G-20" Leaders Ambitiously vowed Now "to Overcome the Pandemic", by "Contain(ing)" it and "Tackling ...its interwined Health, Social and Economic Impacts", as their "absolute Priority".

----------------------------------------------------------

* However, it's also a Fact that Most EU Member Countries, astonishingly, did Not take, Timely, Any drastic Measure to Contain the Virus' Spread, Not Even from nearby Italy's Tragic "Hot-Spot" (See, f.ex.: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/delaytoprotecteupeoplefromvirus.html, etc), including, Astonishingly, its Neighbour : France, (whose Strasbourg's Region of "Great East", soon became the Core of Deadly Infections from its Adjacent North-Eastern Italian Region of Lombardy, the notorious "Mecca" of Italian Record-High Deaths), and EU itself did Not call to Shield Europeans from incoming Foreign Air-Flights but Only, obviously, Too Late, i.e. long After the EU had been, Meanwhile, declared "Epicenter" of the World for CoronaVirus by the WHO, in Late March...

USA did Block Flights from China, and, Later-on, also from the EU, etc., But, apparently, Not completely and/or Not Timely enough, so that, After an Initial Period, during which it appeared quite "Shielded" against the Virus, Suddenly the official Number of its Victims "Exploded" Nowadays there, (Perhaps, also, due to an eventual Downplaying, at first, Followed by possible Exagerations Later-on, in some Statistical ways to Present things).

China, Notoriously, Succeeded in Containing the Virus inside Wuhan's Region with a Drastic Blocus, (i.e. Protecting, f.ex., Beijing, Shanghai, and even Xiyang Regions, etc), But faces, Recently, a Risk to Disseminate "Imported" Infections "from Abroad" accross several Other Areas of the Country, Even if the Chinese Authorities have Just Decided to Block InFlights from Foreign Countries Nowadays.

As for its Neighbour and Ally, Russia, it Benefited from an Immediate Closure of Borders to China, staying for a Long period of Time withOut Any Death, Not even Infections, (with the Only Exception of ...2 Chinese Citizens !), But committed the Error to Leave Open other InFlights from the EU, etc., (as Italy, France, etc), which Started, Recently, to "Import" Dozens of Infections at Nearby Saint-Petersburg, etc., Spreading Fast into around a Thousand cases Now, Dispersed at 60 Different Regions. However, Russia is, still, one of the Rare Countries (as Hungary, etc) which now Decided to Close All its Borders (from the End of March), while having "Only" Five (5) Deaths...

------------------------------------------------------------

* Concerning the Crucial Issue of Medical Treatments and Vaccines, etc., against the Virus, the Latest EU Summit simply Reiterated that EU Commission had earmarked for relevant "Research" about "140 Millions €", (already since the End of February 2020). Obviously, this is Only a Pale reflect, compared to the ..."27 Billions $" that the USA have Just Decided to give for such New Drugs and/or Vaccines' relevant Research, as President Trump announced Nowadays... But it's also true that in Europe, Scientific/Technological Reseach is, still, Mostly Funded by National States, and Not so much by the EU, so that a Serious Comparison should, logically, Add Both the Member States' and EU's own Fundings Together. Moreover, French President Macron has, recently, boasted that Europe has "all trumps" to discover a Virus' Antidote, (See: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/macronandeuagainstvirus.html, etc), while EU Commission intervened (with an exceptionaly rapid Funding) in order to Keep in Europe a German Company developing a Vaccine, that USA reportedly attempted to recuperate. However, Vaccines seem to need too much Time, given the current, Fast growing Life or Death Urgency, so that many Focus now on possible Treatments, and particularly "Remdesivir", (developed by a Private Company supported by USA Government), and "HydroxyChloroquine", considered as "Cheaper and Simpler" than others, (initially Backed by some in China, and particularly by controversial but hyperactive French Professor Didier Raoult, which, for US President Trump, "is supposed to be the Better of the two", and "seems to have some good Backing", as "there are Signs that it could be doing well" : "we’re going to find out Soon", as, Nowadays, there is "a Lot" of "Tests" going on - Both in the USA and in the EU especially France - as he said on March 28).

+ Meanwhile, Russia also started to prepare 7 possible Vaccines, and Invented a Diagnostic Test reportedly giving Results (as "Positif" or "Negatif" in CoronoVirus) in about "2,5 Hours", in Addition to a "ROCHE" Company's Fast Test just bought by the USA Government, and to another French Company's rapid Testing method, in the process of being Commercialized, Together with a Different Chinese Test-method.

But for Life-Saving Treatment, more Interesting seems Russia's announcement, Now, that, just in a Few Days, it managed to Invent a New type of "Ventilator", (an Equipment currently Scarce throughout the whole World, compared to Growing Needs), able to work for 2 or 4 Patients at the Same Time ! In parallel, USA President Trump announced Nowadays Deals with big Private Companies, (including even by Forcing them, via a Legislation on ...National Defense, as f.ex. vis a vis "General Motors", etc), to Produce a Large Number of "Ventilators", (f.ex.: "100.000 in 100 Days", etc), Part of which Might be Sold Abroad to Help f.ex. demanding EU Countries such as the UK and Germany, (where Chancelor Merkel reportedly Tries also to ReOrientate the Car Industry towards producing Ventilators), as France has too Started to cooperate with High-Tech Business, (f.ex. "Air-Liquid", etc) to produce similar Medical Equipments. Meanwhile, the EU Leaders asked EU Commission to "Accelerate ... Help ensuring urgent and adequate provision of Medical Equipment", including "Joint Procurement initiatives for Personal Protective equipment (Masks, Gants, DisInfectants, etc), Ventilators and Testing supplies".

+ "G-20" vowed to "Protect People, especially the Most Vulnerable", But did Not Mention yet any crystal-clear Concrete Measures, (See also Infra), except from "Expand(ing) Manufacturing capacity to meet the increasing Needs for Medical Supplies and ensure these are made Widely available, at an affordable Price, on an Equitable basis, where they are most needed, and as Quickly as possible" (sic !), as well as "proportionate Border management Measures", and  "to SafeGuard our People’s Health through the Postponement of major Public Events", (including by ReScheduling the Olympic Games", etc).

----------------------------------------------------

* On the Socio-Economic aspects of the Fight against Virus' Dramatic Consequences, concerning, First of all, Poor People, USA President Don Trump pointed, as Number 1 Measure inside an UnPrecedented, 2 Trillions $ Package Bill (Extensible up to 6,2 Trilliions $), that All Poor Citizens with Low or No Revenues at all, would, Exceptionally Receive "Direct Cash Payments" of 1.200 $ for One Person, 2.400 $ for Two Persons, or "3.400 $ for a typical Family of Four", Monthly, during at least a Three or Four Months' Period of Time, for which is consecrated an initial "300 Billions $" part of that Budget. In Addition, 2 Regular Meals Each Day would continue to be served to Poor Children, who Depended on (now Closed) School Cantines for that, and Even Delivered at their Family Home in Remote Areas, if necessary.

+ In parallel, Russian President Vladimir Putin, announced to "Pay all Families, ...eligible for Maternity aid, an additional + 5.000 Rubles a Month, for Each Child up to Three Years Old", During "the Next 3 Months", (while also Accelerating, for "Children aged 3 to 7", a "New Support package" from June). In addition, in order to "Support" Workers "on Sick Leave and Peple who have Lost their Jobs", all "Sick Leave Payments payments should be calculated based on the amount of at least one Minimum Wage a Month", "Until the End of the Year" 2020. Moreover, the "maximum Monthly UnEmployment Benefit", currently Limited to Only "8,000 Rubles", will be "Increased to ... 12,130 Rubles per Month", he added. At the same time, all Persons who "Face a Difficult Situation", (if their "Monthly Income Declined ... by over -30%"), will "have the Right to ...Stop Debt Servicing", and "ReSchedule" "Loan(s) and Mortgage(s)" "temporarily", while "any Penalties are Out of Question", and "the Bank of Russia" was requested "to set up a Similar ReScheduling mechanism for Self-Employed people, too", "If" they "are Unable to rePay their Debt for Objective Reasons" during the Virus' Crisis. In parallel, "Small and medium-sized Businesses and Micro Businesses, ....now facing objective Difficulties", will see "All Taxes on SMB (except VAT) Deferred ...for the Next 6 Months", and "Micro Businesses should also be granted a Deferral on their Contributions to Social Insurance funds", as well as "Struggling SMEs and Micro Businesses"' "Bank Loans ...must also be Deferred, for the Next 6 Months". (But, at the Same Time,  "those Expatriating their income as Dividends to Foreign accounts should Pay a 15 % Tax", and Rich "people with Over 1 Million Rubles in Bank deposits" (i.e. "Only about 1 % of deposit Holders") , whose "Interest Earned is Not Taxed ...at all" currently, should also Start to "Pay a 13% Tax on this Income", he added, as a matter of "Fairness", since "People with Modest Salaries -Already- pay an Income Tax of 13%" ).

+ Son after, it's also China's CPC Political Bureau, chaired by President Xi, which "Deliberated on 2 Reports about Proverty Eradication" : "The Country will ...Help ImPoverished People Return to their Posts and get Employed, and ... Support those Slipping back to or Falling into Poverty, Due to the Epidemic", it was reported, "Call(ing) for Enhanced Endeavors to Win the Battle against Poverty, as the COVID-19 outbreak has brought New Difficulties and Challenges". In parallel, "Local Governments were Urged to adopt a Targeted approach towards Poverty Relief, keep Anti-Poverty Policies Stable, and Improve Rural weak Links".

+ However, on the Contrary, the latest EU Summit's official "Joint Statement", does Not make any Explicit Reference to the Fight against Poverty risks from that Virus' Crisis, except from a simple, vague Mention of "Tackling Socio-Economic Consequences", and "Flexibility" for EU "Member States" having taken "extensive Action to ... alleviate Social and Employment Problems", as well as to a "proposed Amendment to the EU Solidarity Fund", added to simple Compliments for "the EIB Group's contribution ... for Bank Guarantees to -and Investment in- European Companies, particularly SMEs". Inside EU Member States, f.ex. in France, President Macron had Earlier spoken about Poor People being cared by Humanitarian "NGOs" and "Local Authorities", (i.e., mainly Municipalities), etc., followed by various concrete Measures announced Nowadays by his Prime Minister Philippe, such as : No Expulsions and No Power Cuts for No Payment of Rent or Bills until the End of May ; Extension of UnEmployment Indemnisation during 2 Months ; 1.500 € Monthly, during the Next 2 Months for Self-Employed ; Extension of Aides to Handicapped People, Social Housing, Access to Health Care, Minimum Income for Solidarity (about 600 €), etc, during the Virus' Crisis.

 + In parallel, it's Also in the UK that "BREXIT" Party's Chief, former Long-Time MEP, Nigel Farage, (Rightist), reportedly called to Exceptionaly establish a Universal Basic Income of 1.100 £ Monthly, (as a so-called "Helicopter Money", i.e. Only during a Few Months), for the Poorest People, precarious or withOut any revenue, (who are reportedly estimated to be around 11 Millions there), partially Echoed also by a "Labour" (Socialist) MP, mutatis-mutandis.

+ As for the "G-20" Summit, they "Called upon" the "WHO, IMF, WBG", etc. "to support emerging and Developing Countries facing the health, economic, and social shocks of COVID-19", and "Particularly (the) ...Least Developed Countries, ... notably in Africa and Small Island States, where health systems and economies may be Less Able to cope with the Challenge". "G-20" also mentioned "the particular Risk faced by Refugees and Displaced persons", and promised to "Address Risks of Debt Vulnerabilities in Low-Income Countries due to the Pandemic", while also Asking "the ILO and OECD to Monitor (its) Impact on Employment", in addition to "G-20" Member States' own "Immediate and Vigorous Measures to...Protect Workers, ...expecially Micro-, Small and medium-sized Enterprises, ...and Shield the Vulnerable (People) through adequate Social Protection".

------------------------------------------------------

* On Mainstream Business, and the Economy at large, the Latest EU Summit simply Observed, at First, that EU Member States and taken Extensive Action to Support their (National) Economies, and, for that reason, they "Needed Flexibility", (vis a vis EU's Financial Stability Rules), provided by EU "Commission's Temporary Framework for State Aid", and an "UnPrecedented use of the Geeral Escape Clause under the Stability and Growth Pact", as they underlined, Together with Exceptional Monetary Facilities by the ECB (for €uroZone Countries). In Addition, at EU level, the EU Commission proposed "a CoronaVirus Response Investment initiative", with "37 Billions €, ...under Cohesion Policy", while an "Amendment to the EU Solidarity Fund" would allow to be "also used for Public Health Emergency situations". Advancing Further, (But, practicaly, Postponing Action for Later-on), EU Leaders "invited (EU) Finance Ministers to explore ...possibilities to Scale Up EIB Group's" Bank Guarantees, etc, and, particularly, the "€uroGroup to present Proposals, within 2 Weeks" Time, (i.e. on April), for "a Comprehensive Response", "taking into account the UnPrecedented nature of the CV-19 Schock, affecting All our Countries", and to "Step up ... Further Action, in an Inclusive way", and "in Light of Developments". (+ ECB ?!)... Notoriously, mainly Southern EU Member States (led by France, Italy and Spain, but also Greece and Slovenia, etc), as well as several Commentators, deplored the Lack of Agreement for "EU-Bonds"' editions to support the Fight against the Virus. Mainly Nordic Countries (led by Germany and the Netherlands, but also Austria, etc), appeared afraid of eventual attempts to "Communotarize" (make Common) a Debt due to Others' Decisions, to which they had not participated, and pointed out that a More Adequate Tool would be ESM (the European Stability Mechanism), which currently Holds a Total of 410 Billions € for Emergencies. (As for the EU Countries which have Not Yet Entered in €uroZone, they reportedly plan to make an appeal to the IMF). Perhaps some Interesting Joint Projects funded by special EU Bonds co-signed by all Participating Countries (including Germany, if it found them Attractive) might provide a Solution, in the foreseable Future. But, in the Meantime, National Measures by EU Member States to Back Mainstream Businesses Focused, f.ex. in France, particularly on massive Tax Relief, Postponing Contributions to Social Funds, "Freezing" Debts, Rents, etc., while Germany offered "UnLimited" Loans, with State Guarantee up to 80% of the Risk, (90% for solid SMEs), etc.

+ However, it's Not obvious that this might Compete with USA President Don Trump's decision to Fund a 500 Billions $ Aide to Mainstream Businesses, mainly Industry, (Added to 350 Billions $ for SMEs), inside a Wider exceptional Package Bill of 2 Trillions $, (Extensible up to 6,2 Trillions $, as he said), to which, US House of Representatives' Chairwoman Pelosi reportedly added that various Other Measures to support Economy are due to Follow, Later-on...

+ In China, the above-mentioned CPC's Political Bureau meeting chaired by Xi, reportedly decided "a Package of Macro-Policies and Measures", including to "Raise the Fiscal Deficit ratio", to "Issue special Treasury Bonds" and "Increase the scale of special Bonds for Local Governments", as well as to "Guide the Interest rate to Decline in the Loan market". They also "underscored Financial Policies, such as ReLoan and ReDiscount quotas, as Deferring RePayment of Capital with Interest", etc, in order "to provide ...Financial Services for Epidemic Control, Work Resumption (for the People), and Development of Real Economy". This should be done in the Context of "efforts to Release Demands in domestic Market, orderly ... Resumption of Malls and Markets", as well as to "ensure Normal operation of the Service sector", so that "Household Consumption" would "Expand", "Public Consumption reasonably Raised", "Brick-and-Morta    r Business Activated", and "the prevailing Trend of New On-Line Consumption", (i.e.  via Digitalisation and Internet, as with the WebSites "Ali Baba", or "Amazon" and "Instacart" etc. in the West). In parallel, China seeks to "strengthen International Cooperation" for a "Global Logistics Supply Chain system", with a "smooth flow of International Freight Transportation", (whose Interest is Highlighted Nowadays, particularly for Deliveries of Protective Masks, Diagnostic Test Kits, DisInfectants, and Other Medical Equipment Urgently Needed by Western Countries, Both in Europe and USA, etc., to Timely and Sufficiently help face CoronaVirus).

+ In Russia, President Putin just announced "Govenment and Central Bank ...action to ensure Stable Lending to the real Economy, including through State Guarantees and Subsidies", as well as "a 6-Month Moratorium on Bankruptcy claims by Creditors", or "on the Recovery of Debts and Penalties". He also instructed "the Government to constantly Monitor developments and, if necessary, expand and review the list of the Industries requiring Support", (etc).

+ The "G-20" Summit vowed "to do whatever it takes and to use all available policy tools to Minimize the Economic and social Damage from the Pandemic", "Injecting over $5 Trillion into the Global economy, as part of targeted Fiscal policy, Economic measures, and Guarantee schemes". They promised a "bold and large-scale Fiscal Support", Backing to "the Extraordinary measures taken by Central Banks", "to support the Flow of Credit", and "enhance Liquidity in Global Markets", as well as "Regulatory and Supervisory measures ... to ensure that the financial system continues to support the economy", including to "Facilitate International Trade", for "the Flow of vital Medical Supplies, critical Agricultural Producrs, and Other Goods and Services Accross Borders", while also "Resolving Disruptions to the Global Supply chains".

-------------------------------------------------------------------

+ Last, but not least, the "G-20" Summit's Leaders said that their Health Ministers are due to Meet "on April" for "a Set of ...Urgent Actions on Jointly Combatting the Pandemic", and asked their Trade and Finance Ministers with Central Banks Governors "to coordinate on a Regular basis", (in addition to a "Joint" meeting with Health ministers in the following Months), for relevant (Medical and Economic) "Response(s) to COVID-19", while also Declaring to "Stand Ready stand ready to React promptly and take any further Action that may be required", as well as their "Readiness to Convene again as the situation requires", throughout 2020.

In Addition, in order "to SafeGuard the Future", the "G-20" Leaders  "committed to strengthen national, regional, and Global Capacities to Respond to potential Infectious Disease outbreaks, by substantially Increasing our Epidemic Preparedness Spending", as well as "by work(ing) together to increase Research and Development funding for Vaccines and Medicines, leverage Digital technologies, and strengthen Scientific international cooperation", "including with the private sector, towards Rapid development, Manufacturing and Distribution of Diagnostics, antiviral Medicines, and Vaccines, adhering to the objectives of efficacy, safety, equity, accessibility, and affordability". For that purpose, the "G-20" Summit "asked the WHO, in cooperation with relevant organizations, to assess Gaps in Pandemic Preparedness ... in the coming months, with a view to Establish a Global initiative on Pandemic Preparedness and Response", able to "act as a universal, efficient, sustained Funding and Coordination Platform to Accelerate the development and delivery of Vaccines, (Partly near a Controversial "Microsoft" f. CEO Bill Gates' plan, But More Widely, also) Diagnostics and Treatments". Curiously, any mentions to all Other necessary and possible Preventive actions, to Protect Humans' Health (f.ex. Scientific Research to Strengthen the Immune System, ProPhylaxis, Hygiene, Security, Containment, etc), were Ommitted, in this paper, perhaps drafted in a hurry...

Currently, the "G-20" is Chaired by Saudi Arabia, which was among the few Countries to Start taking Immediate Actions to Protect its Citizens right from the Beginning of the Virus' arrival at its own Territory, (f.ex. Closing Schools, Blocking certain Foreign Flights, etc., Already Since no more than Only about 100 People had been reportedly Infected !).

Saudi Arabia was among those Countries which had been Hardly Hit, in the Past, by the "MERS" Virus, (2012 : meaning "Middle East Respiratory Syndrom"), which, by its Genetic Structure, Belongs also to that "CoronaVirus" Group, Similar to SARS (2003) and COVID-19 (2019) Mutated Variations, affecting Mainly Human Lungs, etc. That's why, SARS and MERS having been its Predecessors, as CoV-1 and CoV-2, Normaly, the Present Virus should Better be Called simply : "CoV-3".  

(../..)

("Draft-News")

------------------------------------

*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- Facts: In China (First to be Affected) about 3.300 People Died by the new CoronaVirus in 3 Months, but in Italy (EU) it's Already about 5.500 who Died in 1 Month only (since February's End) !

Meanwhile, in Russia (China's Neighbor) there are Only about 440 People Infected and just 1 Dead, (both Less than Greece or Luxembourg, inside the EU !), in mostly Recent "Imported" cases...

Moreover, in China's "Wuhan" area, (reportedly at the Origin of that Virus), all Inhabitants have just been Authorized to Return Back to their usual Jobs (they can even Travel around their Region), and Transports are Fully Re-established, while, on the Contrary, around the EU, even various Massive Personal Confinements at Home are Currently Spreading (in France, Germany, Spain, even the UK, Greece, etc), and some ask now Even Stricter Measures.

-------------------

Concerning Strategies, some inside the EU, more or less openly, Claim that Stop the Virus would be an "Utopia", and, in Fact, push to Focus on a Defensive "Flattening of the Epidemic Curve", i.e. merely Delaying its Spread, just in order to let the Health Systems (Hospitals, etc) some Time to cope with the Rapid Accumulation of Infections, which have been practicaly let to Spread all over their National Territory, (f.ex., mutatis-mutandis, in France and Spain, partly Greece and Germany, the UK too, etc). In the meantime, the Augmentation of Infections is still much Higher than that of Recoveries, at least until now.

On the Contrary, the Chinese Strategy appears to call for Rapid attempts to Stop and Reverse the Virus, with Early Diagnosis, Early Confinement, and Early Treatments, as the Drastic Territorial Confinement of the Virus around the Wuhan Area Only, mostly Succeeded. In Addition, the New Infections have almost Stopped in China, (with the Exception of a Small Number of "Imported" cases from Abroad), while the Recoveries still Grow every day, Approaching 7/8 of the cases ! Will they manage to Finaly Overcome some reported Errors Initially committed at the Begining ?

In the USA, Recently, inter alia, efforts to boost Scientific/Technological Research for Treatments and/or Vaccines reportedly have Started Earlier than elsewhere, (even if several Other Countries, including in the EU, Russia, China, etc, appear to try to Catch up, more or less Rapidly), and Borders' Protection apparently Moved Drasticaly, (with the Exception of Mexico, which still has a Surprizingly Tiny Number of Only a Few Infections). But a special Big Federal Budget due to Boost the Health System, SMEs, Citizens' Economy, etc., has just been Delayed and Blocked by the Political Opposition (Center-Left "Dem." Party of "Socialists"/Liberals), which reportedly Exploited the Infection and Confinement of 5 pro-Government Conservative Senators, that practically Swept their Majority at the Senate, adding even an Alternative Plan, full of Provocative Demands on various Other, UnRelated Issues, (concerning, f.ex., Migrants, the Electoral System, more Powers to Trade Unions, even the Post, Aviation's relations to "Global Warming", etc), as the Country approaches a Crucial Presidential Election in a few Months...

------------------------------

In the middle of such Circumstances, WHO's Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking in a Press-point at nearby Geneva, After having, Recently, named the New CoronaVirus a "Pandemic", and while, still, Acknowlding, Nowadays, that the Spread of that Virus is Globally "Accelerating", Nevertheless, for the 1st Time, he clearly Launched a vibrant Call to pass from mere "Defense" into an "Attack" against the Virus !

 - "You can't Win ... Only by Defending. You have to Attack, as well", he stressed.

 - Indeed, f.ex., merely "asking people to Stay at Home and other physical Distancing measures are an important way of Slowing down the spread of the virus and buying Time (Comp. Supra) – But they are Defensive measures", he said.

 - On the Contrary, "to Win, we need to Attack the Virus with Aggressive and Targeted tactics", WHO's Chief stressed.  

- Indeed, "we're Not Helpless Bystanders. We Can Change the Trajectory of this Pandemic", he Boasted.

This comes shortly After WHO's Director General recently Praised China's Latest Reports of "No New Cases" of Infection, "for the First time since the COVID19 outbreak started". Indeed, "Wuhan provides Hope for the rest of the World, that Even the Most Severe situation Can be Turned Around".

- "Of course, we must exercise Caution - the situation can Reverse", he had advised then. "But the Experience of cities and countries that have Pushed Back this CoronaVirus give Hope and Courage to the rest of the World", he had already pointed out.

- In particular, Ghebreyesus pointed, Mainly, at :

* "Testing every Suspected case" ;

* "Isolating and Caring for every Confirmed case" ;

* "Tracing and Quarantining every close Contact" ;

* "Mobilizing Resources internally From Less-Affected Regions ... to Increase Capacity", (f.ex. in France, etc) ;

* "International Solidarity", as, already, "several Countries have sent Emergency Medical Teams to Care for patients and Train health workers in Other Countries that Need support", (f.ex. Russia to Italy, etc, while China sends Material) ;

* "Build a Network of Emergency Medical Teams ... to provide surge capacity of High-Quality health Professionals who can be Deployed to care for patients and save lives" ;

* "Protect Health Workers" ;

* "Address... the global Shortage of ... life-Saving Tools", as "personal Protective Equipment" (f.ex. Gloves, DesInfectants, Masks, Ventilators, etc), of which we must "Rationalize and Rrioritize the Use", by "addressing every part of the Supply Chain, from raw Materials to finished Product" ;

* "Work Together to increase Production, (particularly of "Essential Protective gear", but also Ventilators, etc), Avoid export Bans, and ensure Equity of Distribution, on the basis of Need" ;

* Find "Effective Therapeutics", (for Care + Vaccine, for which "there is a Desperate Need", as he stressed),  with "Treatment that has been Proved to be effective Against COVID-19" : Not "UnTested", but with "the Right Evidence", he also Praised as "Great to see the level of Energy Now being directed to Research Against COVID-19" ;

* Join WHO's "SOLIDARITY Trial", "to generate Robust, high-Quality Evidence as Fast as possible", "that will Help us to move with Speed and Volume", if "More Countries ... sign up to the SOLIDARITY Trial, and Other Large Studies" (NB), so that "we will get Results Faster on which Drugs Work" ;

+ ETC...

Curiously, he didN't Yet Explicitly mention "Vaccines", neither Borders' Closure vis a vis Over-Infected Regions and/or Countries, even this Might be Implied by the General Principles that he stressed. The First, Perhaps, Because he Focused Now on "Fast" Results, (while Some Claim that Vaccines would Delay, but Others Ambition to Move more Rapidly), and the Second, probably for Diplomatic reasons, (Even if, f.ex., Russia and China, etc., are Recently Starting to be Affected by their Reluctance or Delay to Block Travels from some Other, too Infected Countries, of the EU and/or Other Areas in the World : Comp. Supra).

For Comprehensible motives, WHO's Head also Omitted any Explicit Mention (even if it might, eventually, be Implied by his General Call for a large "Offensive" to "Save Human Lives" : Comp. Supra) to the Letters Recently send to the UNO and WHO Chiefs by the Former Iranian President Ahmadinejad, (Surprizingly Backed even by Many USA President Trump's fans : See http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/ahmadinejadonlabomadevirus1.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/ahmadinejadonlabomadevirus2.html, etc), to Help Find the "Labo" which might have produced such an "Anti-Human Weapon" as the "SARS-CoV-2" Virus, (as some Already call the New CoronaVirus COVID-19, f.ex. also the Prestigious USA Medical Journal "NEJM", See: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2004973, etc, even if, in Fact, it Should be called "SARS-CoV-3", since, Meanwhile, had appeared also MERS, earlier), in order to take Measures against those Responsible for such a "Threat Against Humanity", as he Denounced.

- At any case, as WHO's Head stressed, all these Measures (Comp. Supra) for "Solving this Problem (of the New CoronaVirus' Pandemic) Require Political Commitment and Political Coordination at the Global Level".

=> That's why, inter alia, he also announced his intention to "Address Heads of State and Government from the G20 Countries" Later "this Week" : Indeed, "we Need Unity in the G20 Countries", and "Political Commitment" with "Strong Solidarity", that Can Help us to ... Fight this Pandemic in the Strongest Way possible", Ghebreyesus Urged.

But, while WHO's Chief asks to become "Offensive" against the Virus, Contrary to Others who Stick to mainly "Defensive" methods, with Different Strategies which push Big Gaps among Countries, (Comp. astonishing concrete Facts cited Supra), What could be the Right Path ?....

(../..)

("Draft-News")

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