Coronavirus infections drop in Italy as lockdown draws to a close

CONCERTED EFFORTS

Also on Saturday, the European Commission, along with Italy, France, Germany and Norway, announced the launch of a global cooperation project against COVID-19.

The initiative was announced in Italy on La Stampa newspaper, where Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte published an open letter which he signed jointly with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President Charles Michel.

The goal is to raise initial funding of 7.5 billion euros (8 billion U.S. dollars) to finance what the leaders described as “unprecedented global cooperation (project) involving scientists, regulatory authorities, industry, governments, international organizations, foundations and health care operators.”

“Today the world is fighting a pervasive virus that has overwhelmed countries and continents…(and) brought chaos and suffering throughout the globe,” the letter read.

“In this highly interconnected world, the global health system is only as strong as its weakest link. To protect every one of us, we must protect each other,” the letter noted.

“Our goal is simple…to develop the diagnostic tools, treatments, and vaccines as rapidly as possible and to distribute them to as many people as possible, (in order) to help the world overcome the pandemic,” the leaders wrote.