‘The head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has debunked arguments that countries have to choose between public health and the economy when they look at whether to ease restrictions following a lockdown. "That is a false choice," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Instead, the WHO urges countries to focus on four essential priorities:
- Prevent Covid-19 amplifying events. All around the world, explosive outbreaks have been linked to gatherings, in places like stadiums, nightclubs and places of worship.
- Protect the vulnerable to save lives and reduce the burden on the health systems in terms of severely and critically ill patients.
- Educate and empower communities to protect themselves and others. Physical distancing, hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette and masks can help to curb transmission and save lives, not when done in isolation, but by practising all the measures together.
- Persist with the public health basics. Find, isolate, test and care for people who have been infected, and trace and quarantine their contacts.
Read here (Straits Times, Sept 17, 2020)
