Kickstarting Economies Without COVID-19 Plan, ‘a Recipe for Disaster’: Tedros

(United Nations News) Eight months into the COVID-19 pandemic, countries want to “get their economies going again”, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday, advising on the measures that governments, communities and individuals should take, to do so safely.

“If countries are serious about opening, they must be serious about suppressing transmission and saving lives”, said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, briefing reporters from Geneva.  “Opening up without having control, is a recipe for disaster.”

While this may seem an impossible balance, it can be done if countries are in control of transmission, he said.  The more control they have, the more they can open. 

The reality is that coronavirus spreads easily, he said.  It can be fatal for people of all ages and most people remain susceptible.

Prevention, prevention, prevention

To control transmission, he said it is essential to prevent events that lead to outbreaks. COVID-19 spreads efficiently among clusters of people, with explosive outbreaks linked to gatherings at places such as sports stadiums, nightclubs and places of worship. 

At the same time, there are ways to hold gatherings safely, Tedros said.  Decisions about how and when must be made with a risk-based approach, tailored to local conditions. 

Read more at: United Nations News

Source: CARICOM TODAY