WHO concerns on Europe’s ‘alarming’ infection rates and shorter quarantines
World Health Organization’s European chapter doesn’t welcome the shorter quarantine periods, insisting on «alarming rates of transmission» of the novel pathogen across the region.
The WHO warned The European countries against shortening quarantine periods, taking into account the alarmingly rising rates of infections. In France for instance, the recommended length for self-isolation in case of exposure has been reduced to seven days.
Hans Kluge, the WHO’s regional director for Europe told an online press conference from Copenhagen that the number of corona cases seen in September «should serve as a wake-up call for all of us.»
«Although these numbers reflect more comprehensive testing, it also shows alarming rates of transmission across the region,» she added.
The UN health body insists it would not change its guidance calling for a 14-day quarantine period for anyone exposed to the infection.
«Our quarantine recommendation of 14 days has been based on our understanding of the incubation period and transmission of the disease. We would only revise that on the basis of a change of our understanding of the science,» WHO Europe’s senior emergency officer Catherine Smallwood said.
The European governments shouldn’t short the self-isolation periods
Knowing the immense individual and societal impact even a slight reduction in the length of quarantine can have, Kluge has encourages the European governments to make scientific due process with their experts and explore safe reduction options.
As an illustration of the current situation, the 53 member states of WHO Europe have recorded nearly five million cases of corona infection. as od September 18, there were more than 227,000 related deaths, according to the organisation’s own statistics.
The number of daily COVID-19 cases recorded is currently between 40,000 and 50,000, comparable to a daily peak of 43,000 on April 1 — although testing in many countries has increased considerably.
