THE CRITICAL NEED FOR COOPERATION
INTERNATIONAL DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
JOINT DECLARATION OF ACADEMIES OF SCIENCE AND MEDICINE
As the new coronavirus spreads across the world and the number of cases and deaths continues to rise, almost no country or community remains untouched by this rapidly evolving threat. Drastic and urgent action is underway at all levels of our societies to limit the spread of COVID-19, identify new infections, care for the sick and prevent deaths, reduce social and economic disruption, and meet basic human needs. Imminent uncertainties remain and much remains to be done. At this critical time, we, the G-Science Academies of Science and Medicine around the world, including the academies of the G7 countries, are acting domestically in our countries in various ways. But we believe that it is essential to emphasize, together, the URGENCY OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, in several dimensions:
• Rapid, accurate and transparent international communication on the developing epidemiology of this new viral disease, including transmission patterns, incubation period and lethality, and the effectiveness of various intervention methods.
• Real-time sharing of detailed scientific information about the virus, the pathophysiology of the disease it causes and the human immune response, its origins, genetics and mutations, and coordinated activities to promote increased knowledge in all these areas.
• Sharing information about research and development (R&D) of medical products to address the disease, in conjunction with collaborative research efforts to advance this vital R&D.
• In recognition of our mutual trust, coordination and alignment of regulatory and manufacturing processes and quality standards necessary to accelerate the availability of reliable personal protective equipment, diagnostic testing devices and medical treatment capabilities.
• Collaborative efforts to conduct rapid but evidence-based analysis of emerging concerns or distinct program and policy issues that may arise as the global pandemic progresses.
• Coordinated development of consistent, evidence-based guidance, messaging and communications for the public and policymakers in rapidly changing circumstances.
International cooperation and information sharing across these dimensions will be particularly crucial in countries and regions where the public health system and its health care infrastructure are not adequate, where the disease is not yet at its peak impact, and where social, economic and health conditions indicate extreme vulnerability to the rapid spread of the disease and poor response capacity. This is particularly true for populations in developing regions of the world, including Africa, Asia and Latin America, as well as vulnerable regions of large urban conglomerates.
It is also urgent to understand, project and prepare for the diverse dimensions of the disease's economic and social impact and imminent humanitarian needs. Bilateral development assistance organizations and international development banks will be key actors, as will private foundations that have played important roles in international crisis situations. The World Health Organization is of central importance in many of these dimensions and needs the strong support and cooperation of all our countries.
Humanity has been repeatedly threatened by infectious diseases and each time has overcome the crisis. We will continue to face serious infectious disease threats in the future, from pandemic flu to drug-resistant infections. Concerted efforts are needed to address the critical connections between environmental degradation and disease vectors to prevent future outbreaks of new pathogens. The present tragedy of COVID-19 should spur us to dramatically strengthen our efforts to prevent and control infectious diseases, so that human societies improve their states of readiness and increase resilience to calamities caused by infectious diseases.
This is a statement from the fifteen academies listed below. We are also a member of the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP), with participants from over 100 countries around the world, including countries that find themselves in the most difficult circumstances. IAP member academies can play an important role in their own countries and cooperate internationally and regionally, working closely with government, academia and the private sector, in order to overcome the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Signatories:
Brazilian Academy of Sciences, Brazil Académie des Sciences, France Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Italy
Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina, Germany Global Young Academy
Indian National Science Academy, India Indonesian Academy of Sciences, Indonesia
Korean Academy of Science and Technology, South Korea National Academy of Medicine, United States
National Academy of Sciences, United States Nigerian Academy of Science, Nigeria
Royal Society of Canada, Canada Royal Society, United Kingdom
Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia Science Council of Japan, Japan
