COVID-19: Post-lockdown guidelines

Ronald N. Kostoff, Michael B. Briggs, Alan L. Porter, Michael Aschner, Demetrios A. Spandidos, Aristidis Tsatsakis

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

To summarize, first, there is no unanimity within the medical community for continuing the severe restrictions on activities of the vast majority of the total population that are mainly applicable to the most vulnerable, very small minority of the total population. Second, repurposed (mainly) antiviral treatments can only be expected to have very limited results in controlling SARS‑C oV‑2 viral load of the most severely impacted, based on trials conducted so far. Third, it is difficult to see how safe COVID‑ 19 vaccines can be developed and fully tested on time scales of one or two years, as proposed presently. Fourth, the only real protection against a future COVID‑ 19 pandemic or any other viral pandemic is the one that was demonstrated to work in the SARS, MERS, COVID‑ 19 and annual influenza pandemics: a healthy immune system capable of neutralizing incoming viruses as nature intended. We need an Operation Warp Speed (currently working to produce a vaccine in a record short time period in the USA) to identify and eliminate those factors that weaken the immune system as thoroughly, comprehensively, and rapidly as possible.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)463-466
Number of pages4
JournalInternational journal of molecular medicine
Volume46
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2020

Keywords

  • ARS-cov-2
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus
  • Immune system
  • Lockdown
  • MERS-cov
  • Middle east respiratory syndrome
  • Pandemic
  • SARS-cov
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics

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