Leopoldina news 3_2021 | Page 11

3 / 2021 // LEOPOLDINA / NEWS 11

Pandemic preparedness and the role of science

Science academies make recommendations to the G20 nations
As part of Science20 ( S20 ), the national science academies of the G20 nations published a joint statement in early August . Developed under the leadership of the Italian Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei , the recommendations address the heads of state and government of the 20 most important industrialized and emerging countries and call for better pandemic preparedness worldwide .

The statement explains how it is important that the right lessons be learnt without delay from the COVID-19 pandemic to be better prepared for future international health emergencies . Emerging clusters of disease or deaths need to be detected more quickly and responsiveness needs to be accelerated by sharing detailed data . Increased international coordination is essential to ensure a global supply of diagnostics , medicine , vaccines and medical equipment during a crisis .

The key for more adequate pandemic preparedness lies in global cooperation , which could be strengthened by an international agreement on pandemic preparedness and management at the level of the World Health Organization .
Members of the Leopoldina played a major role in drafting the statement , which will be officially presented to the Italian G20 Presidency during a meeting of the S20 academies in Rome / Italy from 22 to 23 September .
G7 and G20 policy advice is among the most important strategic work conducted by the Leopoldina internationally . The S20 academies group was established in 2017 under Germany ’ s G20 Presidency .
■ CHW
S20 statement 2021

Using apps , tags and wearables to fight the COVID-19 pandemic

Discussion paper on digital tools and their effectiveness
Digital tools have become a key means of keeping the COVID-19 pandemic under control . Given the considerable success of global vaccination campaigns , they will continue to play a significant role .

Digital tools are used to facilitate contact tracing , to provide early warning to people who are at risk of a possible infection , to support public health authorities in their legal mandate to combat the pandemic and to assist with scientific studies , such as on the dynamics and mechanisms of how the virus spreads .

New , more contagious virus mutations , such as the Delta variant , with unknown immune escape responses and the further easing of restrictions are increasing the risk of further waves of infections . This is already being observed in countries like Israel and the United Kingdom . In such cases , contacts of an infected person still need to be detected quickly even in the event of low incidence rates and individuals need to be notified in good time of potential high-risk exposure and advised to self-isolate .
The “ Ways to boost digital efforts to tackle the pandemic ” discussion paper describes how effective various digital contact tracing tools are in such circumstances and explores how they can be improved .
The authors pay particular attention to Germany ’ s Corona-Warn-App . They comment on how this app provides an exemplary level of data protection and data security . However , they also explain how following its launch in mid-2020 , opportunities were missed to strengthen public confidence in the app and to consistently promote its benefits .
The discussion paper also identifies the general need for governments to have a strategy for the use and development of digital tools . These tools could include extremely precise electronic devices for
Image : kebox | Adobe Stock
measuring distances ( tags and wearables ) using ultra-broadband technology , which could be deployed in schools or businesses . The restrictions on the processing of personal data must generally be upheld .
■ JF
Discussion paper ( German only ) “ Stärkung digitaler Pandemiebekämpfung ”