Lift COVID-19 measures slowly, carefully, warns WHO chief

14 April 2020 12:04 pm - 5 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Measures to stem the spread of the coronavirus can only be lifted slowly, if the right public health measures are in place, including significant capacity for contact tracing, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said Monday.

“While COVID-19 accelerates very fast, it decelerates much more slowly,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom said at a news conference in Geneva, where journalists asked questions via video.

The U.S. and some countries in Europe have begun to consider the easing of some lockdown conditions around the novel coronavirus, and the WHO has said it is good for them to plan these carefully.

“That means control measures must be lifted slowly and with control. It cannot happen all at once,” said Tedros.

He reiterated that physical distancing restrictions are only part of the equation, and many other essential public health measures are needed.

“Each government must assess their situation, while protecting all their citizens, and especially the most vulnerable,” said Tedros.

Scientists had learned that since the outbreak nearly 110 days ago, the virus can spread more easily in crowded environments like nursing homes.

Tedros also said that while some countries are considering to ease restrictions, others are pondering whether to introduce them – especially many low- and middle-income countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

“In countries with large poor populations, the stay-at-home orders and other restrictions used in some high-income countries may not be practical,” he said

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Comments - 5

Fazle Lafir Tuesday, 14 April 2020 12:41 PM

And what starve to death instead huh..easy for all these people in high offices to say bcos they do not undergo the common man's situation. They get to eat and get paid anyway... In the end we have more deaths due to starvation than the virus eventually....

What do you think??? Tuesday, 14 April 2020 01:06 PM

How about holding elections in Sri Lanka risking the lives of thousands of government officials on election duty and millions of voters?.....

Anusha d m j Seneviratne Tuesday, 14 April 2020 01:22 PM

Pls consider changing this situation. ASAP

KUMAR Tuesday, 14 April 2020 07:30 PM

LOCK DOWN IS OKAY PROVIDED FACILITIES ARE PROVIDED AT THE DOOR-STEP; IT IS NOT HAPPENNING! NO CASH @ HOME - HOW TO GET TO THE ATM? NO CASH IH THE ACCOUNT - CASH WITHDRAWALS ON ATM SUBJECT TO HUGE CHARGE; BANKS SHOULD BRING CHEQUE COLLECTING VEHICLES TOO TO THE DOORSTEP; MANY IN SRI LANKA DO NOT HAVE FACILITIES FOR ELECTRONIC BANKING!

Shan Tuesday, 14 April 2020 09:48 PM

Yeah right. All these days we were waiting until you said this.

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Lift COVID-19 measures slowly, carefully, warns WHO chief

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