Four Tools from the NoCovid Group to Prevent Further Lockdowns in Germany
The NoCovid research group aims to end the state of emergency in Germany with four new tools: designating low-incidence green zones; implementing these zones across Europe; accelerating the chain of testing, tracking, and isolating; and managing outbreaks locally. “The NoCovid strategy’s approach is to keep the health, economic, and democratic losses and resulting damages of the global pandemic as low as possible,” says Clemens Fuest, ifo President and co-signatory to the study.
The four tools build on each other and are intended as a complement to vaccinations, hygiene rules, and other means of infection control. They aim to support and safeguard the current downward trend in new infections, prevent a renewed increase in infections, and thus enable comprehensive and sustainable easing of the lockdown in all areas of society. “Our current situation is almost untenable in every respect. It must be brought to an end, and the fundamental rights that are guaranteed in Germany’s Basic Law must be permanently and fully restored – as quickly as possible,” explains Andreas Peichl, Director of the ifo Center for Macroeconomics and Surveys and also a signatory to the study. The NoCovid strategy is a departure from the “living with the virus” containment strategy pursued to date. The group proposes ideas and approaches for how to actively and locally eliminate it as far as possible so as to achieve sustained lower numbers of new infections – ideally zero.
The NoCovid initiative consists of 14 experts and scientists from different disciplines and has supporters from various sectors.
Publication (in German)
Eine neue proaktive Zielsetzung für Deutschland zur Bekämpfung von SARS-CoV-2 2. Teil: Handlungsoptionen
2021
