The Latest: WHO says national lockdowns can be avoided
GENEVA — The World Health Organization says national lockdowns could be avoided to fight the latest surge of coronavirus cases if people are willing to make sacrifices and “if everyone plays their part.”
At a press briefing on Monday, Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s technical lead on COVID-19 said she hoped countries would use other tools to stop transmission, including strengthening their surveillance, testing and contact tracing systems.
Van Kerkhove said people should take personal responsibility for everyday decisions, like whether or not they should go out to crowded places, avoiding closed settings and postponing social gatherings.
WHO's emergencies chief Dr. Michael Ryan noted that 46% of all global COVID-19 cases last week were reported in Europe.
“There’s no question that the European region is an epicenter of disease right now,” he said. Ryan said that the normally open European Union borders might need to be shut down to “take the heat out of this phase of the pandemic.”
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HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:
— Trump to intensify his campaign schedule despite U.S. virus surge, new White House outbreak
— Wary of angering public with restrictions, Iran has few ways to contain virus
— Nations across Europe enact more sweeping restrictions to try to slow surging infection rates
— Mexico acknowledges far more deaths than officially confirmed, saying 139,153 now attributable to COVID-19
— El Paso, Texas imposes curfew as virus cases overwhelm hospitals
— COVID-19 cases surge in north-central West Virginia county, shutting down schools and sports
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