Countries that hurry to remove quarantine restrictions intended to contain coronavirus pandemics are at risk of much worse economic harm, says the World Health Organization.
Countries that hurry to remove quarantine restrictions designed to contain the coronavirus pandemic face a "much more serious and prolonged" economic downturn and re-emergence of COVID-19 cases, cautioned World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Friday.
"We are all aware of the profound social and economic ramifications of the pandemic," Tedros said during a briefing at the headquarters of the Organization in Geneva. "Ultimately, the only way for countries to put an end to sanctions and reduce their economic burden is to kill the virus."
On Friday, Tedros called on countries to support their citizens by increasing social welfare services, shifting financial barriers and ensuring that public health interventions are "full-funded." "If people postpone treatment or neglect it because they can not afford it, they not only damage themselves, they make the pandemic more difficult to manage and put society at risk," he said. "This is an unprecedented situation that demands an unprecedented response."
WHO officials said on Monday that government lockdowns are not enough to control the coronavirus outbreak. However, given their effect on the economy and society, they are important. Without them, the coronavirus will kill more people.
"It is serious about it. It is a dangerous virus, people will get through it, countries will get through it, "said Dr. Mike Ryan, Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergency Program.
World leaders need to develop their public health programs "if we get out of an endless loop of economically crippling locks and shutdowns," Ryan said. "We need to get back to be able to monitor this virus, live with this virus, create vaccines that we need to eventually eliminate this virus."
WHO officials have said coronavirus is having an effect on the war against other infectious diseases such as polio.
"In recent years, we've pushed polio to the verge of eradication," Tedros said Friday. Most health workers are now endorsing the COVID-19 plan, causing polio vaccines to be temporarily stopped in some cases, he said.
Countries that hurry to remove quarantine restrictions designed to contain the coronavirus pandemic face a "much more serious and prolonged" economic downturn and re-emergence of COVID-19 cases, cautioned World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Friday.
"We are all aware of the profound social and economic ramifications of the pandemic," Tedros said during a briefing at the headquarters of the Organization in Geneva. "Ultimately, the only way for countries to put an end to sanctions and reduce their economic burden is to kill the virus."
On Friday, Tedros called on countries to support their citizens by increasing social welfare services, shifting financial barriers and ensuring that public health interventions are "full-funded." "If people postpone treatment or neglect it because they can not afford it, they not only damage themselves, they make the pandemic more difficult to manage and put society at risk," he said. "This is an unprecedented situation that demands an unprecedented response."
WHO officials said on Monday that government lockdowns are not enough to control the coronavirus outbreak. However, given their effect on the economy and society, they are important. Without them, the coronavirus will kill more people.
"It is serious about it. It is a dangerous virus, people will get through it, countries will get through it, "said Dr. Mike Ryan, Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergency Program.
World leaders need to develop their public health programs "if we get out of an endless loop of economically crippling locks and shutdowns," Ryan said. "We need to get back to be able to monitor this virus, live with this virus, create vaccines that we need to eventually eliminate this virus."
WHO officials have said coronavirus is having an effect on the war against other infectious diseases such as polio.
"In recent years, we've pushed polio to the verge of eradication," Tedros said Friday. Most health workers are now endorsing the COVID-19 plan, causing polio vaccines to be temporarily stopped in some cases, he said.
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