The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that lifting coronavirus restrictions too early could cause a dangerous second wave of infections.
The body responsible for leading global health responses has advised countries to be wary about ending their lockdowns too soon, despite the fact that economies are suffering.
WHO director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that by already relaxing some of their protective measures, worst hit parts of the world like Italy and Spain could be promoting a “deadly resurgence” in infections .
He was speaking at a regular news briefing from Geneva, and told the virtual conference that the organisation was working with governments to put together effective strategies for easing restrictions, but that this had to be approached with caution.
“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.”
Businesses opening
His comments come as Italy and Spain have already begun relaxing their measures, with a small number of businesses in Italy given permission to reopen next week. These include bookshops, launderettes and children’s clothing shops. Only food stores and pharmacies have been open so far.
The regulation changes came after the number of deaths in Italy fell from 610 last Thursday to 570 on Friday and the number of new cases also dropped slightly from 4,204 to 3,951, and despite the 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.
Recent figures show there have been 15,843 registered deaths related to the virus in the country to date – Europe’s highest number of confirmed cases.
Virus spreading elsewhere
Prime minister Pedro Sánchez told MPs in Madrid “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 stabilising. 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.
