COVID-19 or Corona has the whole world in its grip. The same applies to the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion. All kinds of measures have been taken in this region to regain control of the situation. Five months have now passed and the question being asked is: how are we doing and what are the effects of measures taken in the three countries of our Euroregion, i.e., Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. Is there evidence of differences in the prevalence of COVID in the population? And how does this relate to the behaviour of the population in the three countries of the EMR?
GGD Zuid Limburg, euPrevent, MUMC+ and Sciensano, together with the health services from Düren, Aachen and Heinsberg and the Ministry of the German-speaking Community of Belgium, are examining the effects of national prevention measures on the occurrence of COVID-19 in the population of the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion.
For the survey, two rounds of blood tests will be carried out for which citizens of the EMR will be selected. They will take blood samples at home by finger-pricking to determine antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), and also fill in a corresponding questionnaire. In addition, small citizens’ summits will be organised per participating region and there will be a congress with experts on the results of this project.
The euPrevent COVID project will receive a year-long European grant from the Interreg EMR programme. The results and advice are expected in August 2021.
For more information: https://euprevent.eu/covid-19/
