WHO cautions on Easing of Lockdown

Countries emerging from coronavirus restrictions advised to proceed “extremely carefully” or risk a rapid rise in new cases.

The Director-General World Health Organisation Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus who gave the advice at a virtual briefing in Geneva however, listed six criteria for lifting lockdowns or restrictions.

According to him, “The risk of returning to lockdown remains very real if countries do not manage the transition extremely carefully and in a phased approach,” he said.

Such criteria are: * Ensuring that surveillance is strong, #COVID19 cases are declining & transmission is controlled; Health system capacities are to be put in place to detect, isolate, test and treat every #COVID19 case and trace every contact; ensure that outbreak risks are minimized in special settings like health facilities and nursing homes.

Furthermore, countries easing lockdown should put preventive measures in place in workplaces, schools and other places where it’s essential for people to go; ensure that importation risks can be managed and ensure that communities are fully educated, engaged and empowered to adjust to the “new norm’ “.

Government-ordered lockdowns have become increasingly unpopular as countries suffer rising unemployment and economic activity grinds to a halt.

The Eurozone economy will contract by a record 7.7% this year because of the pandemic, while U.S. private employers laid off 20.2 million workers last month as business shut their doors.

Some countries, like Germany, Spain and Italy have started to relax restrictions, while the U.S. President Trump has said his focus is on opening up the country again.

A Reuters agency news