There
is no 'zero risk' in easing travel restrictions, WHO
says
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[July 31, 2020]
By Bhargav Acharya and Kanishka Singh
(Reuters) - There is no "zero risk"
strategy for countries easing international travel restrictions during
the COVID-19 pandemic, and essential travel for emergencies should
remain the priority, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.
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In a long-awaited update to its guidance on travel, the United
Nations global health agency said cross-border trips for
emergencies, humanitarian work, the transfer of essential personnel
and repatriation would constitute essential travel.
"There is no 'zero risk' when considering the potential importation
or exportation of cases in the context of international travel," it
said in the updated guidance posted on its website on Thursday.
A surge of new infections in many parts of the world has prompted
some countries to reintroduce some travel restrictions, including
testing and quarantining incoming passengers.
The WHO had said in June it would update its travel guidelines
before the northern hemisphere summer holidays.
The WHO's guidance can be used by governments and industries to help
shape policies, but is not enforceable.
The updated travel advice is little changed from previous guidance,
which also included infection control advice applicable to other
settings such as social distancing, wearing masks, washing hands and
avoiding touching the face.
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The WHO urged each country to conduct its own risk-benefit analysis before
lifting any or all travel restrictions. Authorities should take into account
local epidemiology and transmission patterns, it said, as well as national
health and social distancing measures already in place.
Countries that choose to quarantine all travellers on arrival should do so after
assessing the risks and consider local circumstances, the WHO said.
"Countries should continuously plan for and assess their surge capacities for
testing, tracking, isolating and managing imported cases and quarantine of
contacts," it said.
The WHO said this week that international travel bans cannot stay in place
indefinitely, and countries will have to do more to reduce the spread of the
novel coronavirus within their borders.
(Reporting by Bhargav Acharya and Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru; Writing by Kate
Kelland, editing by Diane Craft, Marguerita Choy, Grant McCool and Timothy
Heritage))
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