Reading Material for SA#1:

How Chemistry Can and Has Been Fighting COVID-19

“COVID-19 is a pandemic requiring a pan-European response,” states Cefic’s President Daniele

Ferrari. “The COVID-19 outbreak has affected us all in one way or another. It has disrupted the way the
EU institutions, Member State governments and companies across the world operate. Times like these
require a pro-active, flexible and innovative approach.”

Understanding their responsibility in this unprecedented crisis, Cefic’s members have been pushing
their capacity limits to meet the exponential rise in demand for essential supplies in the countries where
they operate. They increased production of critical supplies such as: disinfectants, diagnostic tests,
ventilators, protective masks, gloves and gowns, Intensive Care Unit medicines and equipment, and
protective clothing.

“The European chemical industry did not stop at increasing essential supplies,” Ferrari continues. “Our
members went on to shift production lines, donate supplies or funds, and invest in research for
coronavirus testing.”

To shift production processes to adapt to the new needs, some members set up emergency production
lines, built new plants, or formed new alliances. For instance, in Ireland biopharma and chemical
companies formed a COVID Alliance collaborating with local engineering and construction companies to
support healthcare facilities. In Spain and Italy, chemical companies supported hospitals ensuring a
regular supply of new resources or to set up emergency rooms with medical equipment, devoted to
infectious diseases. In Germany, a special platform was created to allow partnerships between hospitals
and producers to be formed to simplify the supply of much needed disinfectants.

In many cases the increased supply of essential products has been donated to authorities, hospitals,
pharmacies, humanitarian organizations, and others free of charge. Companies that can’t donate in the
form of supplies have been donating funds to hospitals, charitable organizations or research. Other
donations include fuel vouchers for emergency service vehicles and medical workers, and free food or
drinks for health-care professionals, truck drivers and the delivery people who are vital to maintaining
supplies.

And there are more examples of the industry collaborating to fight COVID19; a consortium of Finnish
companies has started a project aimed at almost doubling the number of coronavirus tests in Finland. In
Switzerland, a chemical company has been donating hydroxychloroquine. Hydroxychloroquine and a
related drug, chloroquine, are under evaluation in clinical trials for the treatment of COVID-19.

“All this to say that – as an industry – we understand the crucial role we play and we are more than
willing to provide solutions in times of crises”, concludes Ferrari.

Source:
“How Chemistry Can And Has Been Fighting COVID-19”
https://cefic.org/media-corner/newsroom/how-chemistry-can-and-has-been-fighting-covid-19/