Rector Zima: You can’t have a plexiglass border ****************************************************************************************** * Rector Zima: You can’t have a plexiglass border around the Czech Republic ****************************************************************************************** Charles University’s Rector Tomáš Zima was Zita Senková’s guest at public broadcaster Czec "https://dvojka.rozhlas.cz/tomas-zima-koronavirus-nevymytime-nemuzeme-zit-v-oplexisklovane vlada-8151230"] (Cěský rozhlas Dvojka), where he spoke at length about the single most imp everyone's mind: the Covid-19 pandemic. Some excerpts from the interview: As a doctor [and former dean at the First Faculty of Medicine – editor’s note], I want to the health care professionals on the frontlines. The system is working because of high mor a strong sense of personal responsibility among personnel, not least when you consider tha into the crisis protective masks were unavailable. Yet everyone had to be prepared just th The dream of eradicating Covid-19 is similar to the worldwide eradication of smallpox in 1 years before, 15 million people were infected around the world and two million people died completely wipe out a disease, it’s a task that takes years and decades. I don’t think we completely eliminate Covid-19 but what we may be able to do is rein it in, to gain immunit it being out there, similarly like the flu. Do facemasks work? In Asia, many people wore them even before, during flu epidemics, and I understand why, ev not the custom here. I would say masks are definitely needed if someone is ill or at work with many different people. Expert opinions differ, but for me it’s a signal that the wear conscientious at the very least. Because we know that around 80 percent of those who catch very mild symptoms. Testing for the disease You can test positive for Covid-19 and yet not look ill. Nor does it mean you will automat from someone who has it: infection is not a certainty. You likely have to spend a bit more person in question. Testing is the one single way for not just the healthcare system to ru society as a whole. I am afraid that the coming months could see more people die from rela pandemic, the negative impact of social exclusion, unemployment, and high levels of stress The government needs a plan It is necessary to stretch out or flatten the infection rate to slow the number of infecti We can’t completely shut down, however, and go into a cocoon, or build a plexiglass fence of the Czech Republic… I think that the government should have an idea how – and when - to lifting the current emergency measures. You can say "a lot of people have the virus now, so let’s extend the measures". But in 10 there will be even more cases! What then? It will have an impact on almost everyone, espec consider that around half have little in savings. Why hasn’t the government pressed legisl profiteering, for example? There are people who are trying to exploit the current situatio Solidarity Everyone who has gotten involved – from sewing homemade masks to technical new designs of – deserves our thanks. It shows that in times of crisis we can join and work together. Som that people don’t care anymore about what’s happening around them, but I think what we hav difficult moment, sends a positive message.