#EuropeansAgainstCovid19

There are countless studies into coronavirus going on around Europe and research into COVID-19 is evolving by the day. Professor Dr. Roman Jerala, together with his team of researchers at the Chemical Institute in Ljubljana, contributes to the international efforts in developing drugs and vaccines to fight the new virus. The European Union has been at the forefront of supporting innovation and coordinating global research efforts, including preparedness for pandemics. Their actions address epidemiology, response to outbreaks, the development of diagnostics, treatments and vaccines, and the resources needed to enable this research. The Commission and national ministries have also agreed on the first ERAvsCorona action plan, which lays out 10 priority coordinated actions to tackle coronavirus.

Banco Alimentare Onlus Foundation assists 1,500,000 people in need in Italy, through the distribution of food surpluses to 7,500 charitable organisations. In the past two months, with the COVID-19 pandemic, requests for food aid have grown by 40% in Italy, with some regions seeing an increase of over 60%. The Food Bank has remained open, aware of the essential service it carries out for the country. So far in 2020, 30 000 tons of food have been distributed by the Banco Alimentare Onlus Foundation, with European aid fundamental to its operations. Throughout their deliveries, their team stays outside, keeps people at a distance from each other, and reassures them that everyone will have something to eat. "We were hit by what we can call a tsunami of solidarity", explains President Giovanni Bruno. "With the outbreak, the strength of volunteering has increased. I'm overwhelmed by it. At this moment it is our duty to do more, rather than less" confirms Maria, a volunteer from Salerno.

Sometimes, wearing a protective mask can be uncomfortable. In particular, medical staff working long shifts find that if they do not have time to shave, the masks do not sit close to their skin and can cause irritation. Alerted to this problem by a client who is a nurse, Al, the owner of Honest Al's Barbershop in Stockholm, decided to come up with a solution. He brought his barber truck to the hospital to give the staff beard trims and shaves, free of charge. "It's not just a shave, it's a quiet moment that allows these people to relax - they spend all day in a warzone and that time to yourself makes a difference", explained Al. The initiative was so well received that he called upon the services of a competitor with his own barbershop to offer additional support at another hospital. "We've become closer through this, and we're planning to open a new barbershop together! It just goes to show the incredible power compassion and joy have to transform our relationships with others."

Ainhoa, 26, was just about to start her specialisation in obstetrics and gynaecology when the process was put on hold because of the pandemic. As she wanted to join the fight against COVID-19, she decided to work as a doctor in a nursing home. In Spain, many deaths linked to coronavirus have taken place in nursing homes, where some of the most vulnerable live together. There is still a lot to do in this fight, but Ainhoa takes comfort in knowing that no cases have been reported in the nursing home where she works. Although this is a temporary job and she will soon start her residency in a hospital, Ainhoa considers this to be a fulfilling experience both professionally and personally, because the values and lessons taught by the elderly make her grow as a person. "We will soon get out of this. We will manage it" she says.

While studying to become a pilot, Maximilian's training came to a standstill in the face of a hiring freeze. He took advantage of this new free time to retrain as a paramedic. Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, he flew as a First Officer but his company has temporarily released him to work as a paramedic at the Munich Clinic in Harlaching, Germany. He is happy to say that his previous pilot experience is helping him in his new role. Healthcare workers across the EU, like Maximilian, are showing solidarity by treating patients from different member states. For example, German hospitals are treating critically ill patients from Italy and France, making their own intensive care capacities available for Italian and French citizens.

As the pandemic continues, older people and those belonging to vulnerable groups may think twice before going to the supermarket. That's why Erika's shop, located in a small village in Belgium, is reinforcing delivery services so that everyone can continue to have access to essential items. Erika uses social media to let her customers know that the shop still has the products they need and is also supporting local producers as an additional way of showing solidarity with the local supply chain. Erika is part of the "Emma 2.0" association, which brings together local shops in Belgium's German-speaking community. Their current focus is on social responsibility projects in less populated rural areas.

On 20 February, doctor Annalisa Malara took a decision that changed everything, saving the life of Mattia Maestri, and many more people throughout Europe. Mattia, a 37-year-old researcher, was Europe's first indigenous case of COVID-19. Mattia was young and athletic, but very seriously unwell. When all his other tests came back negative, Annalisa decided to test him for coronavirus. Looking back, she realises that sounding the alarm immediately allowed containment and prevention measures to be put in place in Italy and in other European countries. International solidarity and scientific collaboration, she believes, are the keys to dealing with the pandemic. "I hope my story will help make it clear that regardless of where you work and who you are, you can make a difference if you do your job with integrity and passion. And I hope that Europe will become more united and stronger, because emergencies like this can only be successfully tackled if faced as a single great nation."

In troubled times, a little help can make a big difference to fellow human beings who are unable to perform their everyday tasks. This applies not only to high risk groups that should be in self-isolation, but also to those who must stay quarantined due to existing underlying health issues. Mattis and Oskar wanted to create contact between such people who need help, and people who want to help. Karantänsamverkan (Quarantine Cooperation) is their platform that aims to help people in isolation by offering them a safe and easy way to get in touch with others who can assist them. The non-profit project was started by the two brothers and their friend Simon Ström. The simplicity of getting involved is evident on the website - there are only two buttons on the first page, one that says "I need help" and a second that says "I would like to help". By entering your postal code you are matched with people close to you and, so far, 1 000 people have signed up as volunteers.

As the pandemic has forced us to do our jobs from home, creating a conducive home environment has become especially urgent. Diana has created her own organizing method, #MareaOrganizare (#TheGreatOrganizingProject), to encourage sustainable living. It includes activities, ideas, and practical tips to make organizing our houses easy, fun, and flexible. People participating in the midst of the pandemic said it helped them to stay focused on something practical and positive, making their living space more suitable to the new reality. A system that entails decluttering may seem counter-intuitive during a time when most are stocking up their pantries. But Diana says cleaning and organizing can be a calming activity. Before rushing to buy more groceries, for instance, she says it’s imperative to take stock of what we already have at home, discarding expired goods and arranging items so you can clearly see them.

For some children, attending school at home, coupled with the uncertainty about when they will return, has been traumatic. Primary school teacher Jerneja ensures that, despite the state of emergency, her students continue to learn and take part in lessons. In addition, she is trying to build interpersonal relationships, mutual understanding, and gratitude between children and their parents. Many parents reported that their child misses their classmates, and several reported that they miss their teacher. Jerneja says she is in constant contact with parents and does what she can to communicate with those who lack computers and technology. She uses different phone apps to communicate with the parents, who have her phone number to reach out to her about their children's needs. “I miss seeing them", Jerneja said. However, she told us there was one upside to remote learning: “I am seeing more creativity and collaboration than I have seen in years".

When the pandemic hit Spain, Elena felt she needed to help the doctors and nurses fighting to save lives. She quickly taught herself to sew on her mother's old sewing machine and started producing masks out of fabric that she had at home. After finishing her first 25 masks, she delivered them to a nursing home in her neighborhood. Then she learned that a neighbour had created a group in which each member promised to sew 200 masks in 5 days. The police brought them the material, collected the masks when they were ready, and distributed them from their police station. She took up this challenge and then joined another group who made coats for medical staff working in nursing homes in Madrid. Most recently, Elena has also joined the “Sponge Cakes” group, which delivers homemade biscuits to shelters, the Red Cross, and other organisations that provide food to disadvantaged families - all while teleworking and taking care of her three children.

The COVID-19 outbreak has forced taxi companies across Europe to get creative, with many offering food and medicine delivery services. However, many people are still struggling to find ways to commute to work. In Slovenia, public transport has been temporarily shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When taxi driver Vladimir Vidaković heard that his mother's colleague now had to walk for an hour just to get to her job, he decided to drive her for free. After he realized that many other people were in the same situation, he started offering his services to the wider community. Such solidarity can be seen across Europe. Since the lockdown, the Federation of Taxi Drivers of Madrid estimated that their drivers have made about 75,000 free journeys taking patients or medical equipment.

Casa Antonia is a private nursing and residential home situated in Balzan, Malta. Since the 18th of March, 115 staff have been living and working within their premises in three week shifts. This includes care assistants, nurses, cooks, cleaners, maintenance men, a gardener and management staff. As such, Casa Antonia is now providing housing, food, laundry, water, electricity, and internet for 70 extra people every day. Employees have adapted immensely well to this surreal situation, living away from their families for long periods of time. Many have never before lived within a community and now find themselves sharing living quarters with colleagues from all over the world and working longer hours. The challenge of living at work has brought out so many talents in the employees. The kitchen staff have learnt to cook Asian style food to help lift the spirits of their Asian colleagues and maintenance staff are DJing to residents in the evening to keep them entertained.

It is important for us to maintain social distancing, but not to lose social contact. For those who are feeling lonely and don't have many people to talk to, life during the pandemic can be very distressing. The Danish Red Cross and Boblberg (an online platform where you can safely and securely make new friends) have therefore created a voluntary conversation platform called SnakSammen.dk, which translates to Talk Together. People who lack someone to talk to can book a conversation with a Red Cross volunteer, and chat about whatever takes their fancy. “I’m lucky, to be able to talk to people across the country,” says Jane, one of the volunteers. More than a thousand people have booked a conversation with a volunteer so far and, due to its success, the platform will continue on after the pandemic.

From the major fashion houses using their production facilities to manufacture face masks, hospital gowns, and hand sanitiser, to the smaller labels donating their profits to great causes, the fashion community has truly pulled together in recent weeks. Artists and designers often are the first responders to reflect the needs of society. By nature, artists are cunningly innovative, constantly ideating, and deeply dedicated to the creative task ahead. Fashion designer Jelena Proković has partnered with other fashion designers, costume designers, stylists and seamstresses in the “Mask_Sign” initiative, where together they sewed protective masks from morning until evening. They created over 1 000 washable cotton masks for adults and hundreds of children's masks which they donated to members of the most vulnerable groups and employees of health and social care institutions.

As medical staff continue to work around the clock to tackle the coronavirus crisis, people across the continent are paying tribute in increasingly creative ways. Along with a team of other volunteers, Momchil disinfected all buildings of the Pirogov hospital - every ward, every corridor, and every staircase. He decided to take part because he couldn't simply watch the situation unfold without contributing something himself. "When it kicked off, I had to do something. I couldn't just sit at home". As he wasn't able to practice his usual activities, he figured he could be useful somewhere else. Caretakers face close-up encounters with the virus, but that didn't stop him from wanting to help. Momchil believes that during this rather scary situation we can all be friends, sticking together for a common cause. "One person can really make a difference, regardless of their occupation, age, or beliefs. This person can be anyone - it can be you!" he told us.

If you are an older person, have underlying health conditions, or suffer from a disability, the idea of getting out to shop for essential groceries and medication can be frightening. With its GROCERIES AT YOUR DOOR initiative, Geeks for Democracy takes on that burden for you. The team delivers food kits created in partnership with a doctor and dietician, a kit comprising basic hygiene and cleaning products, and even medication. "We have a process in place that allows doctors and patients to email their prescriptions directly to pharmacies", says Marian. GROCERIES AT YOUR DOOR is fully operational in Bucharest and its surroundings, as well as nine other regions in Romania. Their national call centre takes orders from those in need, while over 450 volunteers ensure that everything is correctly processed and delivered. They also partner with other NGOs to help deliver basic food and hygiene products to vulnerable communities.

Mark breeds sheep and produces traditional Maltese food products. He decided to help fight in this silent war by restricting farm access to visitors while continuing to produce food, an essential service in these difficult times. He has been dedicating more time to distributing fresh produce door-to-door to vulnerable members of the community, as they are often unable to leave their homes and at risk of going hungry. His posts on social media allow anyone lacking food to contact him, and he then works out a way to get the produce to them. Working closely with his son in these efforts, he has been proud to see other farmers in Malta and Gozo showing solidarity in similar ways. Farmers across the continent are working hard to keep feeding Europe, despite the difficulties they face. The European Union will continue to support farmers and food producers, collaborate with member states, and take whatever measures are necessary to ensure the health and well-being of the people of Europe.

Brigitte works as a nurse in the psychiatric hospital of Vinatier à Bron, in Rhône, France. This hospital has been heavily reorganized to cater for Covid patients. Many of the existing patients have been sent home to free up beds for patients over 65 who have been diagnosed with Covid-19 and require hospital care. Both patients and medical staff need to respect very strict rules, but many of Brigitte's patients have dementia, which creates additional problems as they do not retain the information well. Brigitte stresses that the human connection is essential when caring for these patients, but preventive measures, such as caregivers wearing masks, hinder communication. Brigitte and her colleagues are going the extra mile to offer the best care possible to their patients. As visits were restricted even before confinement started, caregivers began using phone and video-conferencing to put patients in touch with their loved ones.

Due to the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, many households are under financial pressure and have less money available for food. Single-parent families, the unemployed, students, refugees, immigrants, and many others face food shortages. The donation of food parcels can therefore bring reassurance to many homes. That's why Mohamed, Bilal, and Hamza, three friends from the Anneessens district of Brussels, decided to set up such a solidarity initiative when the confinement began. They prepare and deliver food packages donated directly by individuals or retailers, without any financial sponsorship. Today, more than twenty volunteers take part in the activity and, inspired by their impact, similar initiatives have started popping up in other areas of Brussels.

Eusebio Alonso Redondo supervises Tarragona's Food Bank, which provides food to more than 25 000 people across the province every day. A retired notary, Eusebio now devotes his time to this solidarity effort, which receives several tonnes of food products every day from agrifood companies, supermarkets, large stores, and rural cooperatives. Even families with little money donate 10 or 15 euros to the food bank to help those less fortunate then them. "Is there greater solidarity than this?" asks Eusebio. People's support across Europe for those in need makes Eusebio appreciate the immense human, intellectual, and political generosity of the founders of the European Economic Community, which paved the way for the Treaty of Rome in 1957. As Eusebio puts it, "Love and solidarity go hand in hand. And that is our heritage for the future."

The association "Solidarité Grands Froids" is a volunteer led organisation that works with homeless people in Brussels year round. Due to the Covid crisis, most of the associations working with homeless people closed their premises, making the daily life of our "invisible neighbours" even more difficult. Cynthia Simpson, founder of the association, decided that she could not sit back while the sanitary crisis affected even more this vulnerable group. Together with a group of eight other volunteers of her team and two renowned chefs, she decided to provide people in need with good quality healthy food. The word got around very quickly that at 16h00 they serve delicious food in the main train stations of Brussels and around the city centre. They also offer a bag of "goodies" including hygiene products, clean socks and other products offered by donors.

As the coronavirus continues to spread, most people who are used to working in an office environment suddenly face the reality of a new workspace - their own home. Elsewhere, schools across Europe have closed their doors to all children – except those of key workers – meaning that the majority of families are now going to be spending extended periods of time in the house together. The reality of having to juggle work commitments and a hectic family life simultaneously can be daunting. That's where the Read Aloud campaign comes in. Pille and her team offer support to parents working from home who are looking for educational and engaging activities for their children. Read Aloud strongly encourages children to read, listen to stories, and even create their own. This support comes in the form of one-to-one calls through Facebook or Skype, tailoring the experience to each child's reading level and making sure they stay interested. The ability to practice reading aloud ensures that literacy levels continue to improve while simultaneously boosting the child's confidence.

The rights and dignity of older people must be respected during COVID-19. Anne-Sophie is the Secretary General of AGE Platform Europe, a large EU network advocating for such rights. Older people contribute immeasurably to their families and communities – commonly sacrificing their own well-being to care for others, including helping with grandchildren, relatives and neighbours who need assistance. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, all AGE staff have been raising awareness of the virus' impact on the rights of older persons and clarifying ethical issues. Health and long-term care services for older persons must recognize and confront the particular challenges they face, including their ability to access medical treatment and care. In consultation with their members, AGE has published a position paper on COVID-19 and Older Persons Rights, and has created a special webpage with examples of how to provide support to isolated older persons.

The high demands for medical equipment and supplies has led some businesses to change the way they work during COVID-19. For several weeks now, the family-owned company Pramia has switched its beverage production to hand sanitizer. The bottling plant, powered by windmills, has a capacity to produce 7,700 bottles per hour. This new introduction in their production is helping the high demand of sanitizers in the health care sector, food supply chain and pharmacies.

As a journalist specialized in health, David is at the forefront of providing information about COVID-19, mainly covering the press conferences of the Spanish health authorities. As a member of Europa Press, his way of fighting the virus is to offer verified data and facts to combat disinformation and hoaxes. Like all Spaniards, he has been working at home and strictly following confinement, which makes reporting on the situation even more challenging. But, by working in this way, David ensures that he protects himself, protects others, and keeps Europa Press' audiences updated, ultimately saving lives. As the pandemic spreads, it has also given rise to a second pandemic of misinformation, from harmful health advice to wild conspiracy theories. The press provides the antidote: verified, scientific, fact-based news and analysis. Experts and politicians from the EU also regularly hold video conferences to share effective methods to address the impacts of disinformation.

Like many other health care workers, Peter has been extremely active in taking care of suspected and confirmed cases of people infected with COVID-19. While most recently he was working for Lufthansa Airlines as a flight attendant, everyday illnesses and injuries haven't stopped, and medical teams have needed additional support to deal with COVID-19 cases. Thanks to the tireless efforts of people like Peter, patients are able to be transported to and treated in a hospital as quickly as possible. The EU is also working to coordinate and enhance these efforts. Patients in need of intensive care are sometimes transported from over-crowded hospitals to others which can provide better care, even if these are in different countries. Recently, 11 French intensive care patients were airlifted to Luxembourg from France, with 11 additional intensive care patients from Italy and three from France arriving in Austria. A perfect example of how we are making it through the crisis together.

This is a historic moment for Europe, when communicating is hard and finding correct information even harder. When the pandemic first occurred, Sarah decided to launch “Coffee al Fly”, a free podcast series covering topics as diverse as living with social distancing, financial education, and European sovereignty. Each week she discusses the latest news with colleagues and friends, trying to find and understand the correct version of events. In doing so, she helps to educate people that want to learn more about our governments’ choices in relation to the COVID-19 crisis. Members of the European Parliament have called for a European information source to ensure that everyone has access to fact based news, and have asked social media companies to tackle disinformation and hate speech. Through Sarah's podcast, she reassures her audience and corrects misconceptions, with the aim of fostering peace and solidarity during this exceptional time.

Developing a vaccine would be a game changer in the fight against Covid-19. Tomás Pose, Natalia Barreiro, Rebeca Menaya, and José Manuel Martínez Costas are the team behind such a project in a lab at the CIQUS building, University of Santiago de Compostela. Their work consists of programming cells, of any origin, to produce microspheres that absorb the proteins of the virus. As in any other project aimed at developing a vaccine, the goal is to have our body generate an immune response that stops the virus. According to Tomás, developing a vaccine could take more than a year, as the process entails up to three clinical trials before the vaccine can be considered safe to be used on humans. However, the innovative system created exclusively in this lab shows great promise. Recently the Carlos III Health Institute, part of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Higher Education, supported the team with 150 000 euros so that a crucial new phase of the project could begin.

Despite the encouraging figures in the fight against the pandemic, caregivers and other health professionals are facing increasing burnout. Increasing levels of anxiety and stress among social and medical workers have unfortunately become commonplace. In order to address this problem, the association SPS (Soins aux Professionnels en Santé) offers psychological support and assistance free of charge since November 2016. Their helpline, which is free, anonymous and confidential, has received more than 2,500 calls from all over France since March 23, and with nearly a third coming from the Île-de-France region. With a 100% response rate, the service provides 24/7 support for caregivers, nurses and doctors who are suffering from anxiety, exhaustion or work-related problems. After so many days and nights spent caring for patients, caregivers are now in need of our support. Our mission is to be there with them, to support and help them in the fight against COVID-19.

Todor launched the Hack the Crisis Bulgaria hackathon in March to help find solutions to the many problems caused by the pandemic. 850 people participated in this initiative, resulting in 111 ideas to help alleviate the consequences of the crisis. There are three main objectives to the projects: saving lives, saving communities, and saving businesses. The second phase of the initiative began at the end of April, with 30 selected projects now soon to be launched and new ones to be selected. While Todor initiated the idea, the hackathon would not have been possible without the incredible support of a wide variety of Bulgarian entrepreneurs and staff who all contributed their time and effort free of charge in order to make the event a success.

After surviving a dramatic journey as a refugee, Dr. Mouna is recognized today as one of the most distinguished professionals in the medical technology industry in Sweden. She is a medical doctor, neuroscientist, entrepreneur and TV personality. Dr. Mouna has been a pioneer in the field of preventive and personalized medicine. In the fight against Covid, she has been one of the initiators of a private initiative introducing the first COVID-19 antibody test in Sweden. This test has been scientifically validated by the Akademiska University Hospital and Uppsala University in Sweden.

“Solidar Social” is a humanitarian project created by chef Adi Hădean that, along with dozens of volunteer chefs, prepares daily warm meals for medical staff in Bucharest hospitals and older people living in isolation. The team prepares and delivers 1 200 warm meals per day, which is only possible due to the the support of volunteers, and donations from private companies and individuals. "Solidar Social started out of necessity, and we're helping with what we know how to do best: feeding people. We need everyone's contribution to make everything come together. Preparing 1 200 warm meals is not easy, so we need support in many areas, from food sourcing, to logistics, to the donation of protective equipment" said Chef Adi Hădean. So far, the "Solidar Social" team has delivered over 26 000 warm meals to those in need.  Long-term, the Adi Hădean Foundation aims to develop this humanitarian project throughout Romania, to provide the greatest possible relief to those in need.

Maxi could have closed her restaurant and received support from the government. However, as she lives in a rural area with few food options, she decided to launch a takeaway and delivery service to support her local community. She and her family now deliver food to elderly and vulnerable people at no extra charge. The EU, too, has kept working to support local communities, with the European Solidarity Fund set up to financially support disaster-stricken European regions.

Anni is a doctor with a passion for sharing information on health and science on social media, in a way everyone can understand. She strongly believes that everybody has the right to access reliable and fact-based information. This is invaluable during health crises, where people are desperate for reassurance about their health fears. They take answers wherever they can find them, often leading to misunderstandings or misinformation. To avoid this, Anni has been very active in answering questions on her Instagram account @laakari.anni (Doctor Anni). Fighting misinformation is such a high priority that the Finnish government has even enlisted social media influencers to help them in spreading awareness about the situation.

Fighting disinformation is also a top priority of the EU. It has worked with the main social media platforms to promote legitimate content and to hide or take down misleading, illegal and harmful content. In addition, Commission Vice-President Věra Jourová is meeting Google, Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft and others to discuss what they've done so far and what else they can do to help. Finally, the EU has exposed over 110 disinformation narratives on the coronavirus and shared the facts at https://euvsdisinfo.eu.

When Alin started to spot misinformation about COVID-19 spreading in his social media feed, he knew this was exactly where he needed to focus the work of his NGO. The internet empowers all aspects of human nature, and that includes the unattractive ones: we are simultaneously giving people unprecedented access to knowledge while contending with a rapid increase in misinformation. This is why Alin created "Just" (which in Romanian means "according to the truth"), a series of Instagram stories that aims to correct misinformation about COVID-19 and improve critical thinking skills. Twice per week, thousands of viewers tune in, and hundreds of them are interacting with Just's stories and questions. Viewers can guess whether they just watched a real news story or a fake one, and are often surprised to find out the result. Always look out for reliable sources and avoid spreading fake news. Check our short guide on how to recognise COVID-19 myths at http://epfacebook.eu/Myths

To protect high-risk groups, contain the spread of the disease, and mitigate the burden on healthcare systems, a vaccine is urgently required. Besides developing a safe and protective vaccine, it is equally important to manufacture millions of affordable vaccine doses in record time. In support of these objectives, three European biotech companies have formed a pan-European consortium. Italian ReiThera Srl., German LEUKOCARE AG, and Belgian Univercells S.A., have announced a collaboration for the development and manufacture of a vaccine against COVID-19. The vaccine candidate is expected to enter clinical trials during summer 2020 with large-scale vaccine production planned to start soon after. The partners will combine their unique expertise in vector-based vaccine development, vaccine formulation, and manufacturing, respectively. The EU has also organised an online fundraiser that aims to raise an initial €7.5 billion for vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics to fight the coronavirus worldwide.

The Danish Red Cross has set up a network of 17 000 volunteers, who are on stand-by to help people affected by COVID-19 with everyday tasks. The volunteers assist those in isolation with grocery shopping, walking the dog, and other practical errands. Rasmus Lundby is one such volunteer, and every day he and his daughter walk the dog of a woman who is part of a high risk group. "I’m a high school teacher, so I’m spending a lot of my time in front of my screen on virtual teaching. But occasionally, I have the chance to get out and enjoy the sunny spring, because I’m walking a dog", he says. Rasmus finds it very important to volunteer, and that is something, he would like to pass on to his daughter. "I find, that the most important to life, is the value, you create for people", he says.

As it has been necessary to close the hospitality sector to protect public health, some countries have seen an increase in food surpluses. Certain charities have also suspended their operations, for example soup kitchens offering cooked meals, in order to avoid mass gatherings of people. Anna, who works for the Greek non-profit organization Boroume, has been helping to reduce food waste in Greece during the pandemic. Through the organisation's "Saving & Offering Food" programme, which connects food businesses with charitable organisations, more than 24 000 meals are distributed each day in Greece to people facing food insecurity. Municipalities – through their social care units – have also been entrusted to provide additional support to vulnerable groups (e.g. aid at home to persons in self-isolation). Therefore, Boroume has been directing much of the above mentioned quantities of donated food to municipal social pantries.

In many countries, older people are facing the most threats and challenges at this time. Although all age groups are at risk of contracting COVID-19, older people face significant risk of developing severe illness if they contract the disease due to physiological changes that come with ageing and potential underlying health conditions. Yolanda and her daughter Aitana have made it their mission to help the older people in their lives during this difficult time. Aitana ensures her grandparents have enough to eat, helping put together a shopping list that her mother can buy and deliver outside their door. They stay in regular contact over video calls so her grandparents feel less socially isolated and more supported. Yolanda also assists the older adults in their building who have become more dependent on others. By taking their garbage out and collecting medicines they need from the pharmacy, she makes lives much easier for these people who are more vulnerable to COVID-19.

Hospitals face massive demand for ventilators. That’s why a multidisciplinary team in Porto, led by INESC TEC, is developing PNEUMA, a low-cost and easy to assemble device. The main goal of this alternative ventilator is to free up conventional machines for critical cases. This technology acts as an alternative to invasive ventilation for patients with acute respiratory failure requiring respiratory rate control. It is also a solution in the event of a critical shortage of ventilators. European scientists are at the forefront of global research and innovation in medicine, working across borders to improve healthcare systems together. This includes EU support for startups and small and medium companies with new ideas to fight the virus. The European Innovation Council Accelerator's funding call offers €164 million to help them get their ideas off the ground.

Lucia and Simon founded 'Kto Pomôže Slovensku' - 'Who Helps Slovakia' - to organise volunteers and collect donations for essential equipment for health workers. After only a month, they raised nearly 1 million euros from companies and individual donations. Medical staff and those working with vulnerable people (e.g. in assisted living facilities) received thousands of the items they needed thanks to the organisation - including face masks, ventilators, protective suits, and disinfectants. The initiative also supports psychological assistance centres for people of all ages. EU Member States, too, have been lending each other a helping hand. 26 have joined forces, with EU help, to make joint purchases of equipment, vaccines, and antivirals. While European citizens coordinate action in their countries, other European partners stand ready to support them in our common fight against coronavirus.

Annieke Otten teaches at the De Bron primary school in Nijensleek and wanted to turn confinement into an opportunity to make learning at home more effective for parents and children. So she has developed her own online teaching method: "The learning challenge". This home learning method became a nationwide success. On the basis of games, puzzles and quests, the method helps children with languages and arithmetic. Children learn fractions with the help of orange segments, they learn to count by collecting coins and they develop language skills by looting all products with an 'S' from the pantry. The Facebook and Instagram pages "Learning Challenge" are available online and Annieke publishes a language and math assignment four times a week. The assignments are picked up nationally by different teachers.

Kaunas Municipal Vincas Kudirka Public Library in Lithuania has swiftly refocused its efforts to fight against COVID19 by producing simple but efficient hands-free door handles. The library’s team ‘employed’ all available 3D printers to manufacture attachable door devices that allow people to open doors without gripping the handle. In addition to this innovation, the team of librarians and IT engineers printed hundreds of protective face shields for medical workers.

Mindaugas Gudelis has been working as a doctor at FC Barcelona since before the Covid-19 outbreak. In the very first days of the epidemic, he offered to join the frontlines at Lleida hospital in Spain and, in addition, started sharing engaging, fact-based videos that spread quickly and widely on social media in Lithuania.

Laboratory diagnostics are key in the fight against COVID-19 as their tests obtain information that will aid in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of this virus. Scientists like Halin are working towards these solutions. Halin is a Turkish Cypriot and works as a volunteer helping in diagnostic PCR testing. With so many experts working on finding a solution, the EU has committed to boosting their investigations with 47.5 million euros for 17 new COVID-19 related projects. 

Solidarity and mutual help are more important than ever, to get through the COVID-19 pandemic together. With this in mind, María is connecting Estonian families so that they can help each other on a specific issue. While Estonian students are asked to attend e-learning classes from home, not all of them can do so, due to the lack of electronic devices such as laptops or tablets. Thanks to María’s project “A computer for every student”, families who have unused devices at home or in the office can give them to those who don’t, and ensure that every student has access to distance learning. 1200 computers have been traded between families in less than a month.

Think Arts, Talk Business, Make Culture! This is the motto of the platform RHI Stage, created by Arte Institute at RHI-Think.com, where artists can perform and get paid for it. The impact of COVID-19 on the European member states has affected many industries. The culture sector is no exception. The EU set up Creative Europe to provide loans to small and medium enterprises in the cultural and creative sectors. It also set up the ESI Funds, to provide support in the form of loans and guarantees. It is encouraging to see that communities all over the EU can support artists in their work, showing solidarity to artists through art itself.

Julia has been working as a technical assistant in a pharmacy for three years, and her workload has never been so heavy as during the last few weeks. In the current situation, pharmacists are playing a crucial role in communities across Europe, providing information, counsel and medications to their clients. Slowing the spread of the virus could not be done without people like Julia, as pharmacies are often the first place where people seek information about safety measures, symptoms and how to treat them. They also alleviate the workload of health professionals, who are under tremendous pressure. There are many such European heroes working in pharmacy and health science . To help with this burden, the European Union is funding 18 research projects and 140 teams across Europe working around the clock to find a vaccine for the coronavirus.

Anna is the founder and CEO of Quid Impresa Sociale, a project that provides opportunities to vulnerable women in the creation of items made from recycled materials. This April they started the production of masks made out of a special no-drip and antimicrobial fabric, washable up to 15 times. To switch production to this kind of mask they applied to the Italian National Health Institute and received the necessary certification to distribute them as Category I medical devices. Working with members of Legacoop, Italy's trade association of cooperatives, it is one of many joint efforts to fight the spread of the virus.

The Bottarga Gourmet Fish Shop in Malta is proud to take responsibility for making sure frontline hospital staff are well fed. They have volunteered their time to prepare meals for personnel at Mater Dei hospital. The chefs see this as their way of contributing to efforts against the pandemic and of showing their appreciation for those putting themselves at risk to help the sick. All over Europe, people are using their skills and resources to support our healthcare heroes.

Based in Leitrim, during normal times Patrick's business produces gin and whiskey. As needs have changed, so has his production. Today, his team provides hand sanitizer for pharmacies, medics, shops, and charities across the west of Ireland. All over Europe, people are adapting their professions to support their healthcare colleagues in the fight against the pandemic.

Ignacio was lucky enough to receive a stock of masks from friends living in Singapore. While on his way to work, he noticed that members of the Guardia Civil - who were making sure people were respecting the safety rules during confinement - were working without any protective gear. Ignacio offered to share his stock of masks with the police staff, who were deeply moved by his proposition.

The restrictions put in place to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus have radically changed our daily routines, as we are required to stay home as much as possible. While this could have a difficult impact on anyone, it is particularly affecting children - talking to friends and connecting with family is very important for their growth and wellbeing. In these exceptional circumstances, Vicky and Photis had the idea that they could make young people’s lives at home happier. Together with a group of volunteers, they began streaming fairy tales through The Fairytale Museum Facebook page. There, well-known actors, presenters, and politicians read their favourite children's fairy tales live online, sharing smiles and reinforcing the lockdown messages. At the same time, dozens of volunteers are reading stories by phone, to bring joy to children that have to stay at home.

Responding to a shortage of respiratory valves at their local hospital, the Isinnova design lab developed a prototype and used 3D printers to produce new ones in just a few hours. The design was made open source, allowing anyone with a 3D printer to create and deliver valves to hospitals. Working with doctors, they have also transformed snorkelling masks into medical masks to help meet the huge demand from hospital staff for personal protective equipment.

As a parent, it is no easy task helping your children with math or physics during school closures. There does, however, exist a great deal of expertise in society among students, teachers, and other enthusiasts. Therefore, Sophie and Måns got the idea to form DoTheMath, a volunteering network consisting of all these kindhearted people wanting to help. They now have over 1700 volunteers, who have helped thousands of pupils already. If you're interested in starting a similar initiative in your own country, reach out to dothemathpress@gmail.com, and they will help you get started.

Julie (founder) and Cathy launched the Facebook group 'Les Petites Mains Bruxelloises pour des Blouses'. Donors give bedsheets, duvet covers or tablecloths and volunteers, who usually sew as a hobby, turn them into gowns for healthcare workers. To date, the group has provided hospitals and residential homes with over fifty gowns. Julie and Cathy are currently searching for additional volunteers, in order to meet demand for 500 gowns.

When facing unexpected and unprecedented crises, such as COVID-19, volunteers become even more invaluable. Inspired by solidarity and mutual assistance, many new groups are created and the existing ones step up their activity to support those most affected. Realising that people work better when they work together, German 24-year-old Moritz and his friend Christoph set up a Corona help hotline, “The Corona Help Center”. By channelling all offers and requests for neighbourhood help, the Center supports the many volunteer groups in providing targeted and timely assistance. Similarly, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism's Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) is coordinating the delivery of assistance to countries affected by COVID-19, for example by managing the distribution of personal protective and medical equipment.

Massimo, through his firm GVS, has been playing a crucial role in the battle against COVID-19. The organisation has been constantly working to increase the production of necessary masks, expanding their production facilities to focus on PPE and medical filtration products specifically for the Italian market. GVS is also collaborating with the University of Bologna, testing face masks for medical staff, researching cleaning processes, and launching a digital education project. The European Union is working to support the production of such medical equipment. All Member States will now benefit from the first ever rescEU stockpile of medical equipment, including protective masks, as part of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

“Vizinho Amigo”, which translates to “Friendly Neighbour”, is a group of young volunteers who are providing assistance to those who are more at risk of contracting the virus, such as the elderly and sick people. As these groups of people are hit harder when they get the virus, it is highly recommended that they avoid gatherings of people, including at supermarkets or pharmacies. This is where the “friendly neighbours” step in. They collect requests and go shopping for food, medicines and any other necessary items, and deliver them to people's doorsteps. They are also working on raising awareness of their services, by delivering leaflets in the local area and working with local authorities. This spirit of solidarity has also been shown between EU member states, especially towards those worst affected by the pandemic. For instance, Slovakia has sent masks and disinfectant to Italy, while Austria sent gloves and disinfectant to Croatia. German hospitals are treating critically ill patients from Italy and France, while Czechia offered protective suits to Italy and to Spain. Perfect examples of how we are making it through the crisis, together.

The COVID-19 outbreak has put enormous pressure on healthcare personnel and hospitals worldwide. Unfortunately, it is not difficult to imagine how this will be an even bigger issue in developing and low-income countries, adding to the challenges their health systems already face. This thought worried Sara from Garching (Germany). Her Italian friend was visiting relatives in Benin when a pandemic was declared and countries began closing borders. She launched a personal campaign to get her friend out of Benin. With the help of his employer and works council, his colleagues, his family, and a very kind travel agency saleswoman, they succeeded in bringing him back to Germany. National airlines are welcoming EU nationals from many different member states on their rescue flights. This was made possible through the EU's repatriation programme of EU Citizens to their home countries. As of 16 April, 41 760 EU citizens have been brought home on 193 flights.

In addition to the economic issues that can affect those unable to work from home, this quarantine can have serious impacts on people’s mental health due to lack of social interaction and outdoor activities. To help others deal with the situation, a group of 10 professionals have prepared a guide on the psychological impacts of quarantine and how to deal with them. Everyone can benefit from “psiCOVIDa-10”, as the guide is known. They took special care to include support for older adults, families with children and/or children with disabilities, caregivers of sick people, teleworkers, health personnel and other affected professionals.

Music is a powerful tool to connect people, especially during these hard times where many of us feel lonely. That's why Sonja, a professional soprano singer, used her Facebook page to bring people together through duets. Professional and amateur musicians can join and take part in this musical project. On the 22nd of March, she brought many people together to sing the European national anthem from their windows at 6pm.

The healthcare system faces high demand for equipment that allows professionals, such as nurses and doctors, to protect themselves when helping patients in hospitals. A good supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) is therefore necessary to support our health professionals in the fight against COVID-19. SOS.COVID19.Portugal is a Portuguese social solidarity movement, founded by 8 women, committed to this issue. They are crowdfunding to buy more PPE for several hospitals. The movement also created a second crowdfunding campaign to buy PPE for care homes for the elderly. At an EU level, RescEU was created to stockpile and distribute medical equipment and PPE to ensure it goes where it is most needed in order to slow and stop this pandemic.

The COVID-19 outbreak makes it impossible for people to meet in person. School students and staff are no exception. Since schools are now closed, students have been following classes and interacting with teachers through online lessons on their personal computers and similar devices.

“Hope For Children”, together with Cyprus's Ministry of Education, works to make sure that everyone in Cyprus has proper access to e-learning. They donate new electronic equipment to secondary education students in need across the country. By bridging gaps caused by social and economic differences, their goal is to ensure that every student has proper access to education even during these difficult times.

Our children are the future of our countries and of Europe. Therefore, it is essential that they receive proper education. Teachers in the Netherlands, like Klinton, are organising online activities that children and their parents can do together. Not only does this keep the children active, but it also unites the family. As education is a priority for so many, the EU has provided online material for anyone to access. Time at home can be an outstanding opportunity to connect with family members, as well as to try new things together. Teachers in Member States, like Klinton, are working hard to keep their students interested and challenged.

The current crisis has caused many events to be postponed or entirely cancelled. Zoe, Vegard, Keit and Niels from Malta created a Lockdown Festival to let artists keep performing to an audience, even if online and at a distance. These events are a vital lifeline for our communities, when many people feel isolated in their homes. Cultural events can raise people's spirits and create a sense of belonging, so the Festival's team is now working to create a permanent space for online events.

The cultural and creative sector is made up of many individual creators and SMEs, as well as charities. Their status often makes it harder for them to qualify for national or EU support schemes. To make sure EU funds reach the sector, MEPs are asking the Commission to consider increasing the Cultural and Creative Sectors Guarantee Facility (Creative Europe programme) by topping it up from the 2021 budget, or transferring funds from the European Fund for Strategic Investments.

Masks are a useful tool to prevent us from spreading COVID-19, and to protect those around us. However, due to high demand, single-use masks can be hard to come by. 'Masque tissu - Solidarité Coronavirus - Belgique' wanted to solve this problem through the creation and distribution of reusable masks. The Facebook group permits those who need masks to get in direct contact with the people making them.

Before the pandemic hit, Elisabeth's company was creating alcoholic drinks using wine from the Aegean islands. In order to boost Greek spirits during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has redirected its resources to cover the needs of 13 designated hospitals treating affected patients. The first shipment of alcohol already arrived at Greece’s biggest hospital, the Evaggelismos in Athens, and more will arrive at hospitals all across Greece over the next three months.

The catering industry and restaurants are being heavily impacted by COVID-19. To counteract this issue, Chef Dario set up the NGO Feeding Heroes Malta, which runs solely on public donations and his own contacts. Through the organisation, he has worked to decrease food waste and support chefs who were left unemployed. He started collecting unwanted food from restaurants, raw material from suppliers, and sourced professional chefs from closed restaurants to cook meals. The operation has been a great asset to mobilise the community and create innovative, sustainable solutions in the face of the COVID-19 crisis.

You may know the Absolut Company best for its Swedish vodka. In light of the coronavirus pandemic, it is now diverting its resources to hand sanitiser production. Absolut has given ethanol to KiiltoClean Ab — a cleaning company operating across Eastern Europe — to help make sure Swedish medical staff get the hand sanitiser they need. All across Europe, we’ve seen companies changing the way they work to support the fight against coronavirus.

It is important to stay healthy and ensure access to responsible and sustainable food choices during lockdown. Joelle works at a co-op grocery store for local, ethical, and organic products. She explained that the company works to promote nourishing diets, even in these exceptional times. In such difficult circumstances, solidarity is crucial between colleagues, customers, and all Europeans. We must recognize the great efforts local businesses are undertaking to support their communities and producers, especially in moments of crisis.

In response to the current shortage of protective equipment in the Czech Republic as well as abroad, Alexandr and his fellow CIIRC CTU researchers developed the prototype for a protective mask in just a week. The “CIIRC RP95-3D” protective mask, designed to be produced via 3D printers, has an exchangeable P3 filter that meets the highest level of protection. This mask has been certified and the project, supported by academics and benefitting from public and private sponsors, has received EU funding as well.

Staying at home is challenging for all members of the family, including the youngest among us. To create some light relief, a group of five women came together to bring joy and imagination to children through storytelling. They set up a Facebook page called "My Storytime" to read a selection of stories and poetry in English and Maltese for audiences of different ages. While the readers record themselves, the founders take care of all the backstage work including editing, scheduling, answering queries, and recruiting more readers. The response has been phenomenal, with close to 4,300 people following the page since it launched on March 23. Share your creative ways to inspire others during the COVID-19 crisis using #EuropeansAgainstCovid19.

As Odeta's restaurant chain "Jurgis ir drakonas" was faced with great amounts of food that was going to go to waste, she decided to cook and offer meals to the teams working at hospitals in Vilnius and Kaunas. After sharing the initiative on social media, citizens and businesses from all over the country offered to contribute: thanks to their donations, Odeta and her colleagues offer free meals to medical teams but also donate to local food banks and people in need.

Although retired, Marios was a doctor and is still doing his part to help his community during the crisis. Social distancing is not easy for anyone, but it is especially difficult for the ill and infirm. Mario therefore negotiates with hospital staff to allow companions to visit their loved ones in the hospital so that they do not have to die alone. He also takes care of elderly residents with pre-existing conditions, providing medical, psychological, and social support for quarantined older people, in order to prevent deaths from other causes.

In the first days of the declared state of emergency in Bulgaria, the National Youth Forum launched a campaign called #TimeForYou. It promotes the idea that young people's time at home should be filled with opportunities to enhance their skills and competences. To achieve this, their trainers, alumni, executive board, and members came together to launch a series of free webinars addressing topics directly relevant to young people. These have included topics like "The mental health of young people during social exclusion" and future broadcasts will cover topics such as digital youth work, youth inclusion, and youth spaces.

As medical services have been diverted during the pandemic, some citizens have been deprived of their regular doctors, dentists, physiotherapists, and psychologists. Mindaugas, who is a doctor himself, has created a Facebook page where people can ask medical questions and receive advice rapidly (within 10 minutes to 24 hours, depending on the urgency of the request). This not only provides basic medical counsel to patients, but it also alleviates the workload of medical staff on the frontline and saves public funds from being directed to non-essential or non-urgent tasks.

Cognac is one of Europe’s most famous drinks, prized around the world for its quality. Producers of this eau de vie — water of life — have joined forces to help save lives in Cognac region. They work with laboratories and pharmacists, supplying them with alcohol and other vital hand sanitiser ingredients. What’s more, they have donated money and protective masks to hospitals, laboratories, and the emergency services. The European Union shares their values of compassion and support for those in need.

At the start of the lock down, the popular Bulgarian children's band BON-BON decided, from the safety of their homes, to recreate Michael Jackson's "Earth Song" and urge people to stay at home. Over 90 current and former members of the band, located all across Europe, took part in the performance, demonstrating that we can all be together despite the isolation measures. You can see the final result here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97WX-CMKu9E

New supplies of disinfecting gel, which is essential for the prevention of COVID-19, have been distributed throughout 12 hospitals in the northern region of Portugal, thanks to collaboration between the Regional Health Administration, Super Bock Group, and Levira distillery. So far, approximately 18,000 litres of hand sanitising gel made from our non-alcohol beer production has been provided. This is an example of support and solidarity between private businesses and those at the frontlines, enabling the work of the professionals from the national health service.

With their colleagues at Laisves TV ("Liberty TV"), an online media and NGO, Gabija and Ieva launched a crowdfunding campaign to buy protective equipment for hospitals, especially those in remote areas where the situation is more critical than in larger cities. In two weeks, they have already raised over €2 million. They have also been collaborating with the local fashion industry to help them shift production to protective gear.

To fight the spread of COVID-19, many businesses have been required to close. It has led many restaurants and coffee shops to confront a difficult economic reality. In Italy, the Global Shapers Rome hub has launched the platform Save One Seat to allow people to purchase dining bonds today from their favourite restaurants and use them when this emergency is over. This permits businesses to receive immediate funds to cover their current costs, while users can look forward to planning their dinners with friends and family. The EU is also supporting business facing similar struggles. For example, the European Investment Fund, has mobilised €8 billion to help at least 100,000 companies affected by the outbreak.

Hooghoudt is a family distillery in Groningen, the Netherlands. Being part of the community since 1888, they saw it as their duty to help their city fight the pandemic. Their idea came from master distiller Frank Leystra: seeing how difficult it was for medical professionals to acquire disinfectant, he decided to produce it himself right in the distillery. The first orders are from Ambulance Care Groningen and TSN Home Care, and the family business has also been in contact with Groningen's University Medical Center. An unprecedented crisis calls for unprecedented responses just like these. An emergency €750 billion stimulus package will ease the impact of the virus, while €37 billion in European Union funding is already helping save lives, jobs and businesses.

Having just finished school, Carolin will start studying medicine next year: helping people in extreme situations is her calling. Her volunteer position as an ambulance driver has become much more difficult since the outbreak of the pandemic, but she proudly respects all the necessary measures to prevent spreading the virus. Slowing the spread of COVID-19 is one of the main objectives of the EU - and of all Europeans. Together, we are ensuring the availability of essential services and vital medical equipment while achieving this goal.

Jérémy, Jean-Christophe and Virgile are the founding partners of a company based in Strasbourg that created the 'Sauve Ton PRO !' (sauvetonpro.fr) platform, a free, non-profit website that helps merchants dealing with the closure of their businesses. Thanks to this initiative, consumers can support local organisations by purchasing vouchers that can be used at the end of confinement, providing cashflow to help them overcome the economic aspect of the crisis. In addition to initiatives like this one, Members of the European Parliament voted to make €37 billion available to support businesses and workers. To make sure we come out of this crisis stronger, the European Union is also already working on a robust, new budget for Europe.

Jan is a general practitioner who has been working shifts in the Corona department at his hospital in Leiderdorp. Though it's currently quite calm for Jan and his colleagues, they expect their workload to increase dramatically in the coming weeks. The support demonstrated by the local population to the medical workers, clapping from their windows and balconies every night, really touches them and gives them the courage to face the hardships to come. While we might not all be medical professionals, showing European solidarity can be done by anyone and helps those working on the front lines to stay strong.

As the marketing director of a company that has chefs at the heart of its business, Marie wanted to give something back to the medical professionals who are on the frontline of the fight against the pandemic. With the operation 'Les chefs avec les soignants' ('Chefs supporting medical workers'), she encourages all restaurateurs who keep on working (via meal delivery services) to participate and offer meals to the medical personnel. A good dinner plays a very important role in the daily routine of health workers, who are going through a very difficult time: conviviality with colleagues to decompress can make a huge difference. Many organisations have also joined the movement to provide ingredients for the meals, and local authorities as well as journalists are doing their part to support the operation. Across Europe, countries, regions and cities are reaching out to help their neighbours, while the European Union’s solidarity fund is making up to €800 million available to help our countries fight the coronavirus.

Anna has started studying to become a nurse in October 2018, and she can be called on at any time to help. Her ward has been prepared to deal with COVID-19 emergencies and trained to use monitoring equipment that is usually not handled by nurses. In the case of students, the current period is particularly stressful and emotionally demanding. But with her fellow team members, she does everything she can to help in the fight against the virus, and tries to remind everyone to take care of each other, treat people with respect and apply safety measures at all times. Such solidarity can be seen across all our member states. France has donated 1 million masks to Italy and Germany has delivered 7 tons of medical equipment to Italy, including ventilators and anaesthetic masks, helping save lives.

VIVALab focuses on education, innovation, and design. During the pandemic, they produce masks, visors and protective goggles for hospitals in Porto. They transformed their workspace into an assembly line and created a network of volunteers and seamstresses. So far, they have delivered 4.500 visors, 1.300 goggles and 500 masks. As the project is opensource and free to share, groups in Brazil, Italy and Spain are already adopting their solutions. Across the European Union, countries, regions and cities are stretching out a helping hand to neighbours, helping those most in need. This is European solidarity in action. For a full overview of the comprehensive EU action to tackle COVID-19, please visit: https://ec.europa.eu/info/live-work-travel-eu/health/coronavirus-response_en

David is a trained laboratory technician but is currently in the process of becoming a health executive. Although he is not a medical doctor, he serves at the hospital where he's completing his training, helping to manage coordination at the emergency room. In the current situation, the need for non-medical personnel is critical: taking care of tasks like restocking, organisation, orientation of patients and other duties alleviates the workload of doctors and nurses, who can thus focus on their patients' health. David, like many others across Europe, embodies the solidarity that people and institutions need to manage this crisis.

Matilde is a professor at the Complutense University and an anaesthesiologist at the Gregorio Marañón University Hospital (HGUGM) in Madrid. During the epidemic, she contributed to the organisation of new beds to treat critically ill patients at HGUGM. This enabled the hospital to move from simultaneously treating 40 critical patients at the beginning of the outbreak, to 115 critical cases at the worst moments of the crisis. This has allowed the treatment of the most severely ill patients, and the effort has saved many lives. Matilde has been amazed by the dedication and energy shown by all her colleagues during these trying times. To make sure such dedicated medical staff have the equipment they need to do their jobs effectively, the European Commission moved to protect the availability of supplies of personal protective equipment by restricting the exports of such equipment outside the EU.

Eurico works at FAN3D, a consultancy business specialising in Additive Manufacturing (3D printing). At the moment they are 3D-printing medical protective equipment for medical workers. This is just one snapshot of European solidarity. France has so far donated 1 million masks to Italy and Germany has delivered 7 tons of medical equipment to Italy, including ventilators and anaesthetic masks, helping save lives.

For Italians living abroad, it is heart-breaking to see Italy being hit so terribly by the pandemic. The Young Italians Network in Belgium (REGIB) decided to contribute concretely via a fundraiser to support the Italian Red Cross (CRI). Proceeds from the fundraiser help CRI staff and volunteers on the front line to provide medical assistance, support the population, and organise assistance services. Such citizen solidarity actions are further enhanced at a European level. To facilitate collaboration between member states, the EU Cross-border Health Threat Decision ensures access to fairly priced and distributed medical supplies everywhere in Europe, enabling particularly hard hit countries like Italy to procure the equipment they need.

Dr Glaser runs a dental clinic with her six colleagues, which is terribly challenging during the current crisis. Disinfection fluid and protective equipment are often unavailable, and with the clinic being located in a particularly infected zone, treating patients is precarious. Still, Edina and her colleagues keep on working: the patients need them, especially those who are under a lot of pain. Providing care to people is our top priority. While millions of nurses, doctors, dentists and care workers lead the fight against coronavirus, the European Union is ensuring countries have speedy access to lifesaving medical equipment.

Based at the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Amparo's activity is focused on obtaining the maximum information possible from the surveillance systems of COVID-19, and other secondary data sources, to guide local and national health authorities in the control of the pandemic. Her team also participates in the I-MOVE-COVID-19 project, funded by EU Horizon2020. In total €47.5 million in Horizon 2020 funding has been granted to 17 shortlisted research projects to advance the understanding of COVID-19 and improve clinical management. A further €45 million call for proposals is under way for therapeutics and diagnostics to tackle current and future coronavirus outbreaks, under the Innovative Medicines Initiative.

Education must be one of the first responses to any emergency. It is key that all people, whatever their age, can contribute to preventing the spread of the virus. In conjunction with educators and pupils, Mario helped to encourage regular information sharing on the current situation from credible, verified and relevant sources. Such conversations emphasized the importance of respect for human dignity in all circumstances to prevent the spread of hate speech, xenophobia, and prejudice. The fight against disinformation is a joint effort involving all European institutions. The European Union is also helping fight disinformation through a close cooperation with online platforms. We are encouraging them to promote authoritative sources, demote content that is fact-checked as false or misleading, and take down illegal content or content that could cause physical harm.

Parents are struggling to make sure their kids maintain their school routine and keep learning. Committed to tackling this new problem, Busuu (a global education technology company) has launched #KeepKidsLearning. They’re providing children all over Europe with access to free live language lessons, taught by qualified language teachers. So far they’ve published over 120 video lessons, teaching English, Spanish and Chinese and to date have provided over 3,100 hours of lessons. Online solidarity can be seen across a range of digital companies, with Netflix, Youtube and Facebook having agreed to reduce video streaming quality in Europe at the request of the EU to avoid straining the internet while more people are forced to stay at home. If you’d like to find out more, lessons can be accessed via the timetable published on the #KeepKidsLearning site, which is updated on a weekly basis.

As the world started organizing itself online, Elena decided to offer online yoga classes for free to those stuck at home due to the lockdown. The response has been overwhelming, with participants offering donations totalling over 1500 Euros for Italian hospitals in the first two weeks. Promoting the value of togetherness and European solidarity can be done in all sorts of ways. Elena's practice is an inspiring example of how we can bring people together from all over Europe while still following the relevant health and civic recommendations. Online solidarity can be also seen across a range of digital companies, with Netflix, Youtube and Facebook having agreed to reduce video streaming quality in Europe at the request of the EU. This helps to avoid straining the internet while more people are forced to stay at home.

Promoting togetherness and European solidarity is key during this troubling and difficult time. Ioana is a great example of how you don't have to look far from home in order to find someone who might need help. That could be practical, like shopping for groceries or running errands, or social, like keeping each other company through phone and video calls. Due to social distancing, some people may feel more alone than usual, but there are many tools at our disposal to minimise these feelings. By showing others your interpretation of #EuropeansAgainstCovid19 you can be an inspiration to the community around you, helping to bolster positivity and resilience just like Ioana.

As a member of Europa Press, photojournalists like Eduardo are our eyes to the world, taking on a tremendous responsibility. Silent witnesses to historic events, they are committed to the truth, eschewing suggestion, compromise, or intervention. Why is photography important to them and, by extension, to all of us? Photographs are the universal language of our era. Photojournalists sort the chaos of the world into images that bring clarity to the mayhem that surrounds us. They call our attention to the things we miss, to events and people a great distance away from our own corner of Europe. The outbreak of the coronavirus has led to disinformation spreading, which hampers efforts to contain the pandemic. The European Union is committed to raising awareness of the dangers of disinformation, not only for citizens’ health, but also for democracy. Just as we respect social distancing and wash our hands, we have the duty to stop the spread of fake advice and manipulative stories.

In this serious and rapidly evolving situation, we need Europeans to come together, in order to defeat the spread of COVID-19. Claudio is using his innovative skills in molecular biology and scientific consulting to play his part. As a member of Servizi Diagnostici, he specialises in the distribution of diagnostic products for laboratories, helping to provide solutions for healthcare providers all over Europe. To help facilitate collaboration between member states, the EU Cross-border Health Threat Decision allows joint procurement of medical countermeasures to ensure access to fairly priced and distributed medical supplies, no matter where in Europe you live.

We might have to stay at home to help stop the spread of the virus, but that doesn't mean we can't be of great help to the people on the front lines of this outbreak. Sara decided to help in the production of masks for healthcare workers, making them from her home in Madrid. Usually a teacher by trade, Sara has taken this time away from the classrom as an opportunity to show solidarity and compassion for the communities around her. All across the EU, we've seen how action by just one person can help many, many others. Promoting the value of togetherness is key in our fight against the virus. Say thank you today to someone you know who is promoting European solidarity in their own way.

Originally from Fragagnano, Giuseppe Bungaro has been named as one of 100 Eccellenze Italiane after winning the European Union Contest for Young Scientists. By taking advantage of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, Giuseppe has found a way to avoid excessive respiratory scarring and to treat the symptoms of pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2. The EU is committed to boosting such research, and to helping researchers to find a vaccine quickly through existing research funding. For example, A proposed €47.5 million in Horizon 2020 programme funding for 17 shortlisted research projects could help to advance the understanding of COVID-19 and therefore improve clinical management.

One act of kindness can start a chain reaction that grows and grows. This was the case for Ana María and her husband, both violinists, who decided to give an impromptu concert to their neighbours from their balcony one afternoon. The next day, from another balcony, they were joined by a viola player, and the following day another neighbor on saxophone. Every day, their community now awaits their noon concert, buoyed by the music and the knowledge that they are not alone in these exceptional times. All across Europe, we see citizens contributing their own unique talents as #EuropeansAgainstCovid19. Perhaps there is something you love that you can bring to brighten the day of those around you. In Europe, we all play a role. We will make it through this crisis together.

COVID-19 can cause shortness of breath for some and severe breathing difficulties for others, which can be very scary. To cope with the shortage of automatic ventilators available for such patients, Marco and Filippo, through their startup Omnidermal, have created the Artificial Breathing Unit (ABU). Their combined experience in the development of medical devices and pharmaceutical automation is hoped to help COVID-19 patients, and those in rehabilitation, to breathe stronger. The Innovative Medicines Initiative, Europe's partnership for health, is additionally accelerating the medicines development process, generating new scientific insights, and developing resources for open use by the research community. Furthermore, some of these projects are already delivering direct benefits to patients.

André works on a web platform that helps hospitals communicate more efficiently with other medical facilities, with a focus on medical equipment maintenance and rehabilitation. Ensuring the provision of adequate medical equipment has been one of the key efforts of the EU during this crisis. By assisting specialised technicians with the maintenance and rehabilitation of the tools that medical workers desperately need in order to provide adequate care to patients, André is helping to tackle the logistical challenge the health sector is currently facing.

As soon as music schools closed, Roch began looking for solutions to stay in contact with and keep teaching his pupils. At first, he asked them to send recordings of their work so he could provide them with feedback. The students showed so much motivation that Roch came up with the idea to set up a remote flute orchestra that would play Beethoven's Ode to Joy, just like the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra first did. With this project, Roch not only kept the education of his students going, but he also offered them a very human adventure. Seeking to spread friendship and solidarity across borders, this project shows the role of music - and of the arts in general - in uniting the people of Europe during difficult times. Boosting solidarity by reminding Europeans of their common culture shows citizens of all EU countries how much they all have in common. United by heritage, and united in the fight against COVID-19.

Cecilia and her husband run a family dairy farm: they're the only people working at the farm to keep the production going. They proudly keep on working through the crisis to make sure basic products such as milk remain available to the many families that rely on it. Like many local family farms, they are supported by the EU's Common Agricultural Policy. More than ever, they are proud of what they do: they know people rely on them to keep on providing essential goods we usually take for granted. And they will be keeping on working tirelessly in these difficult times, however difficult it may be.

Nine young women from Brussels created the Facebook group 'Solidarité Solidariteit Brussels Bruxelles Coronavirus' to encourage solidarity between everyday citizens and organisations or medical professionals in need. The group acts as a relay between good will and demand: most people want to help, but they don't always know how to do it. Collaboration between members of the group resulted in efficient strategies to help people in need and support professionals on the frontline. Solidarity is not just a good intention anymore thanks to this initiative: volunteers can now easily find where they can be most helpful.

The “Open Air Project” that João founded gathers a community of tech-savvy volunteers working on projects like open source ventilators, and the rehabilitation of old ventilators to support medical institutions. Other projects revolve around prevention, containment, remote assistance, logistical support, mobile apps, and other technological solutions to the current emergency. The project aims to provide local solutions that can be helpful globally, paralleling the EU's efforts to support people in the field while offering solutions on a continental scale.

Like so many scientists across Europe, Philippe and his colleagues at KU Leuven work to better understand epidemics like COVID-19. Supported by EU funds, epidemiologists like Philippe embody the EU's scientific response to the threat of viruses. In order to fight epidemics like the one we're currently going through, scientific research is and always will be our best answer: understanding is the first step to finding solutions to public health issues. This is what Philippe and his peers are focusing all of their efforts right now.

In the midst of the current COVID-19 outbreak, physical health is naturally the main focus of all Europeans' effort, time and energy. But mental health is also becoming a major concern, as citizens across the EU are dealing with unprecedented levels of anxiety and isolation, which can lead to depressive thoughts and behaviours. Marie and her colleagues from NGO 'Nevypusť duši' (which can be translated as 'Mind your mind') organise campaigns, public events and workshops about mental health for schools and businesses. Focusing on education and prevention, they provide information about what to do and where to seek help when necessary. The NGO organises live streams and webinars about mental health during these difficult times & offers materials and infographics to help people cope with stress, anxiety, depressive thoughts and other mental health issues.

With the help of volunteers, Robertas launched the large-scale production of hundreds of thousands of pieces of protective equipment for medical professionals in Lithuania. Within six weeks they have produced over 100,000 surgical masks, more than 240,000 antibacterial disposable masks and HEPA 10 masks and over 20,000 disposable jumpsuits and gowns. Thanks to Robertas and his volunteers, the protective gear shortage has been partly addressed: such initiatives are what allow medical professionals to work safely and prevent them from joining the ranks of their patients mechanism.

All across Europe, community organisations are coming together to show solidarity during these difficult times. Anpas Emilia Romagna is one such group, providing emergency medical services to some of Italy's most affected regions. To help them in their mission, RescEU - part of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism - ensures countries can quickly obtain the medical equipment they need. This means all Member States now have access to the first ever rescEU stockpile of medical equipment, such as ventilators and protective masks, under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

Mihaela works at Logiscool Montgomery, an institution in Brussels that offers coding lessons to children and teenagers. When the confinement was imposed, the school quickly set up video tutorials and online classes to keep teaching its pupils: digital technologies, robotics and Artificial Intelligence are fields of research of utter importance, as the current crisis has demonstrated. Mihaela and her colleagues see it as their duty to keep educating the adults of tomorrow in these areas that give Europeans the tools to tackle challenges like this pandemic and its consequences. Across Europe, countries, regions and cities are reaching out to help their communities, while the European Union’s solidarity fund is making up to €800 million available to help our countries fight the coronavirus.

Together with the Lithuanian tech community, Eimantas, Tomas and their colleagues at Tesonet managed to raise €440K to buy medical supplies for Lithuanian hospitals. The whole project, started from scratch, was done within 72 hours, and helped provide Lithuania's largest hospital with much-needed respirators and other equipment such as protective suits or cotton masks for elderly homes. Such initiatives complement the EU's RescEU program, which gathers medical equipment so that the necessary supplies can quickly reach member states facing shortages.

To help parents who are taking care of their children at home, Zuzana and her colleagues at online bookstore Martinus.cz decided to ask Czech authors and celebrities to record themselves reading their favourite fairy tales. Every other day, a new fairy tale is added to the bookstore's YouTube channel, helping parents make sure that their kids sleep well and have sweet dreams. While we may feel further apart than usual, we must work closer together than ever. Across Europe, countries, regions, and citizens like Zuzana are reaching out to help their communities, while the European Union’s solidarity fund is making up to €800 million available to help our countries fight the coronavirus.

Claudia is a gastroenterologist who is currently on duty at the COVID Emergency department of Milanese hospital Fatebenefratelli Sacco. Among the four COVID departments the hospital has created, hers is the one dedicated to the most compromised and least stable. The majority of her 40 patients are on respirators, with a high percentage eventually transferred to intensive care units. Like many doctors across Europe, Claudia adapted her job to the current needs. To enable medical staff to do this challenging work, the EU has dedicated extra funds to hospitals across Europe and ramped up production of medical devices by issuing calls for production of equipment and negotiating new supplies.

As medical professionals are under immense pressure to tackle the current crisis, osteopaths like Claudia help alleviate the doctors' workload by taking care of patients who suffer from other ailments not related to COVID-19. Thanks to osteopaths like Claudia, these patients keep receiving treatments to alleviate their pain during this crisis, that keeps most medical professionals busy fighting the pandemic. Such support makes a huge difference for patients and lightens the heavy workload doctors and nurses are currently facing.

Francesco is based in Parma, one of Italy's regions most affected by the Covid-19 outbreak. As a volunteer ambulance driver for the Emergency Medical Service (Anpas Emilia Romagna), his services are in high demand to support the local population as they face the crisis. To support volunteers and medical staff across our borders, The EU is ensuring the provision of medical equipment by ramping up production of medical devices and equipment, and negotiating new supplies for those regions hardest hit.

This team of 9 people developed the Virus Fight Club app in which players travel around the globe to fight COVID-19. The game is designed to be accessible to all age groups, mixing information from the World Health Organisation with entertainment to provide an engaging activity during this difficult time. Frequent handwashing is a core feature of the game, along with the distribution of masks to infected characters. Such initiatives creatively complement the existing actions of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, which provides rapid risk assessments and epidemiological updates on the outbreak.