200615 | WHO warns England's lockdown should not be lifted further without improved test and trace system
WHO warns England's lockdown should not be lifted further without improved test and trace system
Nation remains in 'very active phase of the pandemic', official warns
England’s coronavirus lockdown should not be further lifted until the government’s test and trace system has proven to be “robust and effective”, senior World Health Organisation (WHO) official has warned.
Speaking ahead of the reopening of non-essential shops on Monday, the WHO’s regional European director Hans Kluge cautioned against rushing into restarting the economy while the country remains in a ”very active phase of the pandemic”.
“We know that early lockdowns saved lives and bought some time for the health system to be ready,” he told The Guardian. “The question of lifting the lockdown is as important as going to the lockdown. The key words here are to do it gradually. Do it carefully.
He added: “Contact tracing is key especially as the UK starts to relax the social and physical distancing measures. There has to be a robust track-and-trace system in place of operation.”
The tracing system has been repeatedly touted as a key element of the nation’s emergence from lockdown after the UK reported some of the highest rates of infection and death from the virus worldwide.
However criticism has surrounded the system – with an app that had been scheduled to be rolled out with the policy sidelined and contact tracers reporting they had received little or no work since the scheme was launched at the end of last month.
In its first week of operation, the UK test and trace system identified nearly 32,000 people who had been in close contact with someone who had tested positive for Covid-19 – but the government has admitted that the system is not perfect and would need to do better.
The UK recorded a further 36 deaths from coronavirus on Sunday, taking the total to 41,698. The total is among the highest of any country in the world, but the daily toll is the UK’s lowest since lockdown began.
Watch more
It comes as the government looks to review the two-metre social distancing rule implemented to contain the spread of the virus amid concern it will leave hospitality operations unable to function.
Additional reporting by Reuters
via https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/coronavirus-latest-uk-lo...
- Printer-friendly version
- Login or register to post comments
- Permalink
No pop-ups, no click-bait, just quality independent journalism with no adverts on news pages
Subscribe to http://cornwallreports.co.uk for less than 9 pence/day, or pay-as-you-go for only 20 pence/article. Journalism has value. #CornwallReports
Contributions
- Angarrack Defibrillator Team (25)
- Angarrack Inn (336)
- Angarrack Methodist Chapel (3)
- Carol (15)
- Gail (1)
- GordonG (12)
- Hayle Development Group on Facebook (5)
- Hayle Harbour Authority (4)
- Hayle Town Council (5)
- louise (1)
- Lynne (94)
- Mal (1)
- Neil (22)
- Neils Garden Care (9)
- Russell (21)
- Secretary - Christmas Lights (118)
- Steve (3)
- webmaster (5023)
Book page
Similar
- 200602 | Cornwall's police issue latest public warning to would be holiday makers
- 200515 | Extension to Government's furlough scheme called for by Cornish business boss
- 200515 | Coronavirus: Mousehole Christmas lights display is cancelled
- 200515 | Coronavirus: 103 patients have now been discharged from Treliske
- 200514 | Message from Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer - Continue to Think Twice
Similar across site
- 200615 | WHO warns England's lockdown should not be lifted further without improved test and trace system
- 200602 | Cornwall's police issue latest public warning to would be holiday makers
- 200515 | Extension to Government's furlough scheme called for by Cornish business boss
- 200515 | Coronavirus: Mousehole Christmas lights display is cancelled
- 200515 | Coronavirus: 103 patients have now been discharged from Treliske
Recent comments
1 week 23 hours ago
36 weeks 5 days ago
38 weeks 3 days ago
38 weeks 3 days ago
48 weeks 1 day ago
1 year 8 weeks ago
1 year 33 weeks ago
1 year 43 weeks ago
2 years 3 weeks ago
3 years 27 weeks ago