WHO Leader Warns Of ‘Deadly Resurgence’ If Lockdown Restrictions Are Eased Prematurely

NEW YORK (VINnews) — Numerous countries hit by the coronavirus are suffering both the physical effects of the virus and severe economic damage from the paralyzed economy. Many of these countries such as Italy and Spain which are exhibiting a slight downturn in infections are already considering easing their lockdown restrictions and returning to economic activity. However WHO director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warns that by prematurely relaxing protective measures, these countries are risking a “deadly resurgence” of the virus.

Ghebreyesus spoke at a news briefing from Geneva, and told the virtual conference that WHO was working with governments to put together effective strategies for easing restrictions, but that this had to be approached with caution. He advised countries to be wary about ending their lockdowns too soon, despite the fact that their economies are suffering.

“Lifting restrictions too quickly could lead to a deadly resurgence,” Dr Ghebreyesus said. “The way down can be as dangerous as the way up if not managed properly.”

Italy, the country which has suffered the most in Europe from the deadly virus, has seen deaths fall from a high of nearly 1000 a day to 610 on Thursday and 570 on Friday. The number of new cases has also dropped to less than 4000 a day, after peaking at over 6000 a few weeks ago.  A small number of businesses in Italy have been given permission to reopen next week, including bookshops, launderettes and children’s clothing shops. Only food stores and pharmacies have been open so far. The regulation changes came despite Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte extending the national lockdown until 3 May, warning that the gains made so far should not be lost.

In Spain, which recorded its lowest daily death toll in 17 days on Friday, with 605 people dying, some non-essential workers in sectors like construction and factory production are being allowed to return to their jobs on Monday.

Prime minister Pedro Sánchez told MPs in Madrid that “the fire starts to come under control,” adding that the country would have “total victory” over the virus.

Mr Sánchez is the latest European leader to suggest the situation may be stabilizing. But Dr Ghebreyesus has warned that the virus is now spreading rapidly in other countries like Africa, where he said Covid- 19 had reached rural areas.

“We are now seeing clusters of cases and community spread in more than 16 countries on the continent,” he said.

“We anticipate severe hardship for already overstretched health systems, particularly in rural areas, which normally lack the resources of those in cities.”

The leaders of several nations, including the United States, had previously marked this Easter weekend as the provisional date when restrictions would be lifted. Most nations, however, have now backed away from that and are extending lockdown regulations until May.

In the UK, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who has been deputizing for Boris Johnson while he remains in hospital, warned that it was still too soon for ministers to begin lifting the social distancing rules introduced last month. He said the lockdown measures would “have to stay in place until we’ve got the evidence that clearly shows we’ve moved beyond the peak”.

Dr Tedros said the WHO was working with affected countries on strategies for safely and slowly easing their restrictions, but that the pandemic had exposed weaknesses in the health care systems of even the strongest nations, and it could not be too soon.