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As officials across the U.S. see hope in new data suggesting that social distancing policies are working, the World Health Organization (WHO) has a sobering reminder.
“We still have a long way to go in the marathon and the progress we have made so far in fighting the virus is extremely fragile,” said Dr. Hans Kluge, WHO’s regional director for Europe
According to the Associated Press, Kluge explained in Geneva today that new numbers forecasting less fatalities or recording a slowdown in the rate of new cases are not reasons to relax any stringent social distancing measures currently in place.
“To think we are coming close to an endpoint would be a dangerous thing to do. The virus leaves no room for error or complacency,” she said.
Kluge further said that if a country is considering easing lockdowns and self-isolation mandates, it “requires very careful consideration.”
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Kluge specifically notes that ensuring health care systems are more secure would be critical.
This advice comes as the epicenter of the coronavirus, Wuhan, China, just lifted the two-month lockdown order that forced residents to stay home as doctors fought to suppress the virus’s rapid expansion.
Similarly, reports in the U.S. point to a slower rate of increase of new cases in highly affected states like New York and Washington, suggesting social distancing is working.
Conversely, countries like the U.S., Spain and France each recorded record high deaths associated with the coronavirus this week, supporting Kluge’s claim that social distancing and other public health lockdowns need to be enforced.
“Many of us are looking forward to celebrating Easter with better weather but this is not the time to lower our guard,” Kluge reportedly said in a video news conference from Copenhagen. “We must soldier on.”
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