No surge in coronavirus cases after Europe reopened

In this article for The Washington Post, authors Chico Harlan, Loveday Morris, Michael Birnbaum, and Stefano Pitrelli say that coronavirus cases in Europe remains controlled even as a majority of countries in the continent have reopened. The authors also look at the various theories which attempt to explain the decline in case numbers. 

Some of the possible reasons for the decline include the normalization of health standards (social distancing, washing of hands), avoidance of large indoor gatherings, active contact tracing and isolation of infections. 

Editor’s Note: Though this article was written at the beginning of June, a few weeks into the re-opening of Europe, daily infections in most countries continue to decline. This signifies several things. 

First, this article shows to us that European states have taken seriously the results of recent researches on the coronavirus. Based on the evidences, they have adapted their approaches in order to balance health, economy, and citizen well being. Second, this article highlights the reality that lockdowns were never meant to resolve the coronavirus challenge. 

Third, the article reiterates the need for proactive and targeted government response. When the government understands the nature and behavior of the virus, it knows how to effectively channel its resources. Fourth, this article also shows that fear of the virus does us no help. 

Only when we allow rational minds, compassionate hearts, and willful, just, and decisive actors prevail, can we be able to truly understand the best way to go about the coronavirus challenge [if we want lockdowns to end, we must end the lockdown within ourselves, read END THE LOCKDOWNS! Stop It Outside By Ending the Lockdowns Inside Us].