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WHO warns against easing lockdowns

GENEVA, May 11 (KUNA) -- World Health Organization's (WHO) Director General Dr. Tadros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Monday governments wishing to easing the lockdown due to the coronavirus should be ready to deal with consequences.
Government should be capable of controlling spread of the virus, and health care system should be ready to deal with resurfacing of infections as well as guaranteeing efficiency of monitoring methods, Ghebreyesus told an online news conference from WHO headquarters in Geneva.
Even if countries who are ready to ease restrictions gradually, he added, those nations would face complex and difficult challenges.
Ghebreyesus cited South Korea which was forced to shut clubs and cafes after discovery of new cases, and new infections discovered in the Chinese city of Wuhan. Germany, moreover, reported an increase in cases since it eased the restrictions.
Studies regarding production of a vaccine affirm that a relatively small percentage of people have antibodies, he added, which means most of the population was exposed to infection.
WHO is closely working with the governments to make sure public health measures were effective when lockdown is eased, he said.
Ghebreyesus said governments should also consider the reopning of schools, and that WHO was working with the International Labor Organization (ILO) to coordinate reopening of businesses.
WHO said over four million people were infected with the novel coronavirus with deaths around 280,000. (end) ta.bs