WHO Chief terms lockdowns as 'blunt instruments' against COVID-19

Guwahati: World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General of the Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Friday called lockdowns to arrest the spread of the coronavirus "a blunt instrument". With the right mix of targeted and tailored measures, lockdowns can be avoided altogether, Tedros said.

Tedros said that several countries are using a data-driven approach to drive a targeted response, adding that non-communicable diseases and their risk factors are increasing vulnerability to the Covid-19 infection that has already killed over 8 lakh people across the world.

The WHO Director-General also said that the emergence of the COVID-19 has necessitated the urgency of addressing non-communicable diseases and their risk factors.

This comes against the backdrop of the WHO issuing a new set of guidelines on the use of the anti-inflammatory corticosteroids to treat critically ill Covid-19 patients. The UN body has recommended the use of corticosteroids only in the case of patients who are severely or critically ill.

During Friday's briefing, Tedros also talked about a vaccine strategy to combat the virus once an effective breakthrough has been made.

"If and when we have an effective vaccine, we must also use it effectively. Initially, when supply is limited, priority must be given to vaccinating essential workers and those most at risk. In other words, vaccinating some people in all countries, rather than all people in some countries. I will repeat again: vaccine nationalism will prolong the pandemic, not shorten it," Tedros said during Friday's briefing, warning against vaccine nationalism.

The WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also urged the nations of the world to participate in the COVAX facility by September 18.

Meanwhile, Soumya Swaminathan, the WHO's chief scientist told the briefing that no vaccine should be approved for a worldwide rollout until it had undergone sufficient scrutiny. She has further added that the vaccine candidates need to go through the full Phase III trials.

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