As the world locks down to shut out the destructive effects of Coronavirus, the WHO charges governments to use period to plan effectively against COVID-19.
In a recent reaction to country responses, the WHO director-general, Tedros Adhanon Ghebreyesus, who had earlier called on warring nations to sheath their swords so we can all focus on COVID-19 as a common enemy,
Said he:
“We understand that countries are trying to assess when and how they will be able to ease these measures. The answer depends on what countries do while these population-wise measures are in place.
“Asking people to stay at home and shutting down population movement is buying time and reducing the pressure on health systems, but on their own, these measures not extinguish the epidemics. The point of these actions is to enable the more precise and targeted measures that are needed to stop transmission and save lives”.
The WHO boss said the lockdown is a second window for governments to plan and do the needful.
“We call on all countries that have introduced so called “lockdown” measures to use the time to attack the virus. You have created a second window of opportunity. The question is, how will you use it? There are six key actions that we recommend:
- Expand, train and deploy health care and public health care work force.
- Implement a system to find every suspected case at the community level.
- Revamp up production capacity and availability of testing.
- Identify, adapt and equip facilities you will use to treat patients
- Develop a clear plan and process to quarantine contacts
- Reinforce the role of government on suppressing and controlling COVID-19”.
According to WHO, these measures are the best ways to suppress and stop transmission so that when restrictions are lifted, the virus doesn’t resurge.
#Savelives, end COVID-19
#COVID-19- Stay@home
