We are now into the second week of Stage 3 in the COVID-19 response at CERN. On-site activities are limited to those essential for the safety and security of the site and equipment, and many colleagues are teleworking. We want to thank all of you for your work and commitment in these difficult circumstances.

As we settle into work in this new configuration, it is important that we stay connected. Information to our community will be updated through the webpage and the usual communication channels, such as the CERN Bulletin. We also remind you to ensure that your emergency contacts are up-to-date in the database.

Over the past days, we have been very encouraged by many emails sent to us by members of the CERN community with ideas on how CERN technologies and expertise could help in the collective global fight against COVID-19. They all show the great creativity and ingenuity of our community, and demonstrate the CERN spirit of serving society. In order to channel all of these good initiatives, we have designated a group of colleagues from across CERN’s community to collect and implement the suggestions for how CERN can help. The objective of the CERN against COVID-19 group is to ensure an effective and well-coordinated action, drawing on CERN’s many competencies, so as to maximise our impact. Proposals and ideas for this group can be sent to fight.covid@cern.ch, and you can find the membership on the webpage. We have also written directly to the Director-General of the World Health Organization to offer CERN’s support.

Thank you again for your commitment and hard work, and for your flexibility and patience, during these exceptional circumstances.

CERN Directorate – Fabiola Gianotti, Frédérick Bordry, Eckhard Elsen, Martin Steinacher and Charlotte Warakaulle