World Health Organisation warns against easing social distancing restrictions

World Health Organisation (WHO) officials have on Wednesday warned global leaders about easing social distancing restrictions, saying the risk of returning to coronavirus-related lockdown “remains very real.”

The number of new coronavirus infections is beginning to slow down in regions such as Western Europe. However, more cases are still being reported every day in Eastern Europe, Africa, South-East Asia, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Americas, the WHO said.

An average of around 80,000 new cases have been reported to the WHO every day, the organisation added.

“This virus likes to find opportunities to spread and if these lockdown measures are lifted too quickly, the virus can take off,” said Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s emerging diseases and zoonosis unit.