Europe

#ZeroCovid | The aim is zero infections! For a European shutdown in solidarity

03/02/2021

After a whole year of the pandemic, we are in a highly critical situation across Europe. Thousands are dying every day and many more are falling ill. The novel coronavirus is spreading at a rapid speed, now even accelerated by its mutations. Measures implemented by governments are not enough: they are prolonging the pandemic instead of ending it, and they are putting our lives in danger.

The strategy of controlling the pandemic has failed (‘flatten the curve’). It has restricted life permanently and has still brought about millions of infections and tens of thousands of deaths. We now need a radical change in strategy: not a controlled continuation of the pandemic but its end. The aim cannot be 200, 50 or 25 new infections – it has to be zero.

To fight the pandemic effectively, we immediately need a joint strategy in Europe. With vaccinations alone, the race against the mutated virus cannot be won – even less so if fighting the pandemic consists of actionist restrictions of leisure without a shutdown of the economy. We are campaigning for an immediate reduction of Sars-CoV-2-infections to a level at which every single infection can be traced again. Determined action by several countries has shown that it is possible to end the spread of the virus.

The international call for a Pan-European commitment for rapid and sustained reduction in SARS-CoV-2 infections, initiated by scientists on 19^th December 2020, is a basis for our campaign. But we are convinced that an end to the spread of the Sars-CoV-2 virus can only succeed if all measures are planned in social solidarity. We therefore demand these necessary measures:

1. Down to zero collectively: the first aim is to reduce infections to zero. In order to avoid a ping-pong effect between countries and regions, all European countries have to act fast and in parallel. When this aim has been reached, restrictions can be lifted carefully in a second step. Low case numbers have to be maintained with a strategy of control, and local outbreaks have to be contained immediately and rigorously. We also need a joint long-term vision – and regional and national plans of action on this basis. These would encompass screening and vaccination strategies, protection of high-risk groups and support of those especially affected by the pandemic.

To reach this aim, we need a break in solidarity for a couple of weeks. Shutdown means: we limit our direct contacts to a minimum – including our contacts at work! Measures cannot be effective if they are only focussed on leisure and exclude work. We have to shut down those parts of the economy which are not urgently needed for society. Factories, offices, companies, construction sites, schools have to be closed and the duty to work must be put on hold. This break has to last for as long as it takes to reach the aims mentioned above. It is important that workers plan the measures in companies themselves and implement them collectively. With this statement, we also call upon unions to take a determined stand for the health of workers, to support the activism of workers for their health, and to organise the necessary large collective break together.

2. Leave no one behind: people can only stay at home if they are in a financially stable position. A comprehensive aid package for all is needed. People who are particularly affected by the shutdown have to be supported specifically – people with a low income, people living in cramped conditions, in a violent environment, or people who are homeless. Forced collective accommodation has to end, refugees should be housed individually. People who are doing a lot of care work during shutdown need to be relieved through communal organisation. Children should receive online teaching, in small groups if necessary.

3. Expansion of the social infrastructure for health: The whole health and care sector has to be expanded immediately and sustainably. This also relates to health departments and institutions responsible for contact tracing. More people need to be employed in this sector. Wages need to be raised. Profit interests in the health and care sector endanger our collective health. We demand the revocation of privatisations and closures in this sector. Financing hospitals through case rates should be replaced by financing all necessary expenses in solidarity.

4. Vaccines are global commons: a global pandemic can only be overcome globally. Public and private enterprises have to prepare and conduct the necessary production of vaccines immediately. Vaccines should be withdrawn from private profit-making. They are the result of the creative collaboration of many people, and they need to belong to all of humanity.

5. Financing in solidarity: the necessary measures cost a lot of money. Societies in Europe have amassed an enormous amount of wealth which has been appropriated by the few. With this wealth, the comprehensive break from work and all measures of solidarity can easily be funded. This is why we demand the introduction of a European Covid-solidarity tax on high wealth, company profits, financial transactions, and the highest incomes.

We want to overcome the political paralysis in dealing with corona. We want to mobilise in Germany, Austria and Switzerland for the necessary solidarity for a ZeroCovid strategy. As our comrades in the UK, we know that we need to fight for the protection of our health against short-term profit interests and against large parts of the political sphere.

There is no contradiction between the protection of health and fighting the pandemic on the one hand and the defence of democratic rights and the rule of law on the other. Democracy without public health is useless and cynical. Public health without democracy leads to authoritarianism. The connection of both is the decisive key to a ZeroCovid strategy in solidarity.