As more countries took further steps at easing COVID-19 restrictions this week, some that are further along in the process are battling clusters and upticks in cases, as the World Health Organization (WHO) released new guidance on reopening schools and workplaces.
The WHO today also warned that disruptions related to the COVID-19 battle could hurt the battle against HIV. Today global cases rose to 4,159,377 from 187 countries, and 284,883 people have died from their infections, according to the Johns Hopkins online dashboard.
Reopening speed bumps
At a media briefing today, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, said the good news is that there has been a great deal of success in slowing the virus and saving lives, but the world got a glimpse of new challenges in some of the countries that have had success:
- Wuhan, China's original epicenter, reported its first cluster since its lockdown ended, with five cases from the same residential compound, Reuters noted. China also reported another cluster of about 12 cases, family-related, in the Jilin province city of Shulan.
- South Korea today reported 35 new cases, 29 of them linked nightclub clusters in Seoul's Itaewon district, according to the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Germany, which recently took its first steps in easing restrictions, reported that its reproduction number, which shows how many people a single person can infect with the virus, has risen to 1.1, hinting at exponential spread, CBS News reported.
- Lebanon lifted some of its restrictions last week and is reporting a rise in cases, its highest in a month, and government officials will meet to tomorrow to discuss the possibility of re-imposing some of the measures, according to Reuters.
WHO officials today commended countries for being transparent about the spurts of new cases and said it shows that countries that report them are taking the right steps by going out and looking for the virus.
Mike Ryan, MD, director of the WHO emergency program, said, "The virus is still here, even if you lift the lockdown." He added that these countries are examples of locations that are willing to open their eyes and keep them open. "I'm concerned about countries doing blind driving."
Guidance for schools, workplaces
Tedros said lifting lockdown needs to be slow and steady, to protect lives and livelihoods, stimulate economies, and to keep a close eye on the virus in case measures need to be stepped up again.
He said that over the weekend the WHO published guidance on reopening schools and workplaces. Some earlier-affected countries are restarting schools. For example, children in Switzerland returned to school with modifications in place, after a nearly 2-month closure, and Vietnam's kindergartens and primary schools reopened today, with temperature checks at the entrances.
Maria Van Kerkhove, PhD, the WHO's technical lead for COVID-19, said the world is learning more and more about the virus in children every day, but so far, the attack rate in kids seems to be low. And household testing suggests that the virus primarily passes from adults to children. Most experience mild illnesses, but some critical infections have been reported, and some children have died.
She said it's important to understand how the virus is circulating in areas that have schools and that the facilities can practice physical distancing. Detrimental effects can occur when kids aren't in school, and Van Kerkhove said the WHO is fortunate to be working with UNICEF to more fully understand the full impact of children not being in school.
Tedros said the new workplace guidance recommends that all employers conduct a risk assessment for workers' potential exposure to COVID-19 and develop plans for preventing and mitigating the virus as part of their overall business strategy.
HIV progress in Africa in jeopardy
In another WHO development, the group today said a modeling group that it and the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) consulted estimates that, if steps aren't taken to solve disruptions in health services and supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic, a 6-month disruption in antiretroviral therapy could lead to more than 500,000 extra deaths in sub-Saharan Africa this year through 2021. In a statement, the WHO said about 470,000 people in the region died from AIDS-related conditions in 2018.
The WHO said the modeling projection makes it clear that communities and partners need to take steps now, because a 6-month medication disruption could set the clock back on AIDS-related deaths to 2008, when more than 950,000 people died from AIDS-related conditions in the region. The agency also said the disruption could have a lasting effect, increasing excess deaths from the disease by 40% for at least another 5 years.
Tedros said, "This terrible prospect of half a million more people in Africa dying of AIDS-related illnesses is like stepping back into history." He said some countries are already taking key steps, such as ensuring that people can collect bulk treatment packs and other essential supplies, such as self-testing kits, from drop-off points, relieving pressure on the health workforce.
The WHO has also warned of other indirect effects of health systems overburdened by COVID-19, including polio eradication, the battle against malaria, and maintaining childhood vaccination.
Russia cases soar
Russia's cases continue to surge, with 11,656 new illnesses reported today, and it now has the world's fourth-highest total, at 221,344 cases. However, with 2,009 deaths, the country has far fewer than other nations with large numbers of cases.
President Vladimir Putin today, in a televised address, described a plan to gradually ease restrictions, allowing less affected areas to tailor their steps, Reuters reported. About half of Russia's cases are in Moscow, where a lockdown will remain in place until May 31. Mass gatherings remain banned, and people ages 65 and older are urged to stay at home, with some parts of the economy, such as agriculture and construction, allowed to restart.
Putin also announced support for businesses and families with children, in an effort to soften the impact of a doubling in unemployment over the past month.
UK announces reopening plan
Elsewhere, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday announced a three-step plan to begin lifting restrictions, which includes a recommendation to wear face masks in enclosed spaces when physical distancing isn't possible, the BBC reported. As part of the first step, some industries such as construction and engineering are urged to return to work, if safety measures are in place.
On Jun 1, the second phase, for example, allows shops to reopen, along with a stepwise reopening of schools. And the third phase on Jul 4 would include reopening part of the hospitality industry and allowing public places to open up.
Meanwhile, other European countries took more steps away from their lockdowns today, with the Czech Republic reopening its beer gardens with distancing measures in place; some nonessential businesses reopening in France, armed with masks and hand sanitizer; and about half of Spain—the less affected part—entering the second stage of its four-part reopening plan.
