COVID-19: New video from Stewart Cole - Advances in research to prepare for the resumption of activities

"Dear colleagues,

Scientists from the Institut Pasteur, in collaboration with Santé publique France and the CNRS, recently used modeling techniques to show that just under 6% of the French population is likely to have been contaminated with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. We are still a long way from the threshold of 70% that epidemiologists believe is necessary to curtail the outbreak. Estimates suggest that it could take months or even years to reach that figure if the pandemic continues on its current course. In the absence of effective drugs to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus, a vaccine represents the best option for achieving "herd immunity". The Institut Pasteur has the expertise and capability to develop vaccine candidates, but no results are expected for several months.

For the time being, compliance with lockdown regulations, hygiene measures and social distancing therefore remains the best strategy to prevent the circulation of the virus and allow hospitals to resume their normal service. So I am calling on all members of the Pasteurian community to comply with the measures introduced at the Institut Pasteur. My goal is still the same: to safeguard the health of all staff and ensure the continuity of the Institut Pasteur's strategic activities.

To this end, I have asked the committee responsible for the Business Continuity Plan to draw up a Business Resumption Plan for campus which will begin after May 11. It is clear that this resumption must be a gradual process and that it will take time before we can return to the way things used to be on campus. Arrangements will involve home working for some staff, the systematic use of masks, social distancing measures and travel restrictions. We will get back to you shortly with more details about our business resumption strategy.
Dear colleagues, in the absence of effective treatment, we need to learn to live with the virus. It is clear that this will have an impact on the organization of our work, but I have always had the utmost faith in the Institut Pasteur's resilience.

Here is a new video with the latest news from Team Pasteur, which outlines how advances in research are preparing the ground for the resumption of activities.

See you again soon."

Professor Stewart Cole
President

Watch the video of april 24

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