EU
experts see some risk of return to lockdown in COVID-19
second wave
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[June 12, 2020]
By Kate Kelland
LONDON (Reuters) - The risk of a second
wave of COVID-19 infections big enough to require European lockdowns to
be reimposed is moderate to high, EU health experts said on Friday, and
depends on the gradual easing of restrictions and how people stick to
them.
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A pandemic risk assessment by the European Centre for Disease
Prevention and Control also predicted a moderate pick-up in
infection rates in the coming weeks, although it said transmission
has passed its peak in most European countries.
"The pandemic is not over," ECDC director Andrea Ammon said in a
statement accompanying the assessment.
She said that while there are decreasing trends of COVID-19
infections across Europe, efforts are still needed to limit the
spread of the disease.
"It is important to comply with recommendations regarding physical
distancing and maintain high standards of hand hygiene and
respiratory etiquette," she said. "Everyone's contribution makes a
difference."
The Stockholm-based ECDC monitors and advises on disease and public
health in the European Union.
Its assessment found that stringent physical distancing measures
imposed by many governments have reduced transmission.
It also noted that the enforced stay-at-home orders have been
"highly disruptive to society, both economically and socially", and
that many countries have now begun a full or partial reopening of
shops and public spaces.
"At the present time, just before the summer holiday period, as
member states relax limitations, there is a risk that people will
not adhere firmly to the recommended measures still in place due to
'isolation fatigue'," the ECDC warned.
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It said the risk of COVID-19 incidence rising to a level that may
require the re-introduction of stricter control measures is high if
lockdown measures are phased out when there is still ongoing
community transmission, and if no appropriate monitoring, testing
and tracing systems are in place.
The risk would be moderate, however, if measures are phased out
gradually, if transmission has been reduced to sporadic levels, and
if disease test and track systems are in place.
World Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanom
Ghebreyesus told a ceremony in Geneva late on Thursday that "the
threat of a resurgence remains very real...Now is the time to be
even more vigilant.
"We must also remember that although the situation is improving here
in Europe, globally it's getting worse. We still have a road ahead
and we will continue to need global solidarity to defeat this
pandemic fully," Tedros said.
(Additional reporting by Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva; Editing by
Mark Heinrich)
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