Coronavirus pandemic | One step at a time: How Europe's worst-hit countries are planning to exit lockdown

Italy, Spain and France are some of the countries hit first and the worst by the pandemic in Europe, though new numbers might indicate a slight improvement.

Moneycontrol News

April 27, 2020 / 05:35 PM IST

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European countries like Italy, Spain and France — which had put in place strict lockdown measures after the coronavirus outbreak in their cities and towns — are now planning to ease restrictions even as they continue to report new cases and deaths.

The three countries are among those hit first and the hardest by the pandemic in Europe, though recent numbers might indicate a slight improvement.

Spain

Spain, for instance, recorded the lowest number of daily coronavirus deaths in over a month at 288 on April 26.

Against this background, the country announced that it is easing lockdown measures to allow children under the age of 14 outside for the first time in weeks. They will now be allowed to play outside, accompanied by their parents, for one hour daily. However, they are not allowed to go further than one kilometre.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does a vaccine work?

A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine.

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There are broadly four types of vaccine — one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine.

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Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time.

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According to reports, much like other countries, France is planning on easing lockdown restrictions in stages, and the government has reportedly identified 17 priorities including reopening of schools, companies returning to work and getting the public transport to work according to its normal capacities.

France has reported over 22,000 virus-related deaths till date.

Other European countries which have been hit hard by the pandemic, including Germany, Portugal, Sweden and Austria, are also planning a phase-wise easing of lockdown restrictions. Countries like Britain, Ireland and Netherlands, however, will continue to maintain lockdown.

Also Read | Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam worst prepared to tackle Covid-19: Centre

Europe's lessons for India

Just while the world is watching as Wuhan, from where the virus originated, is limping back to what is being called the "new normal", it would also be observing how Europe's baby steps in easing of restrictions go.

For India, where experts have believed that a "US or Europe-like" situation was avoided because of the over month-long lockdown, it would be crucial to keep an eye on how European countries make their way out of the restrictions.

Also Read | The path ahead for Indian economy post lockdown; lessons from China, US & Europe

Reports suggest that during his meeting with the Chief Ministers via video conference on April 27, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the lockdown will continue in hotspots, but easing of restrictions might start in other regions.

However, a final decision regarding that would be taken after May 3, when phase two of the lockdown in India ends.

Medical experts have also said India might take a leaf out of countries like Sweden and restrict the activity of elderly population and those with co-morbidity for two-three months.

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first published: Apr 27, 2020 05:35 pm