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Add to Preferred SourcesThe UN Human Rights High Commissioner warned of potential risks as more countries move to lift lockdown measures put in place to contain COVID-19 spread.
Michelle Bachelet — a former doctor, health minister and Head of State — acknowledged the challenge facing governments as they grapple with the medical crisis, while also trying to save their economies from collapsing.
“Balancing the economic imperatives with the health and human rights imperatives during the COVID-19 pandemic is going to be one of the most delicate, daunting and defining experiences for all leaders and all governments. Their place in history will be decided by how well or how badly they perform over the coming months, ” said Ms. Bachelet.
COVID-19 continues to disrupt the lives of billions across the planet, including countless workers and students who are now confined to their homes in efforts to protect lives from the deadly disease.
More than four million cases were recorded globally as of May 14, and more than 290,000 deaths, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
If the re-opening of societies is mishandled, all the huge sacrifices made during the initial #lockdown will have been for nothing. Letting politics or economics drive the #COVID19 response at the expense of health and #HumanRights will cost lives.
— Michelle Bachelet (@mbachelet) May 14, 2020
The UN rights chief posited considerations for lifting lockdowns, focused primarily on WHO guidance which stresses that transmission needs to be controlled while healthcare systems must be able to detect, test, isolate and treat every case, and trace contacts.
She pointed to South Korea, New Zealand and Germany as countries that have followed this advice from the outset.
However, she added that “we can also learn lessons” from South Korea and Germany which have seen a resurgence of COVID-19 cases since relaxing their lockdown and emergency measures.
Ms. Bachelet also underlined the need to address disease risk in vulnerable locations such as care homes, psychiatric institutions, refugee camps and detention centres.
Special measures are also needed in high-density residential areas such as slums, and other areas without adequate water, sanitation, or healthcare facilities.
Similarly, plans to ease lockdowns should include specific measures for high-risk groups, which include racial and ethnic minorities, migrant workers, people with disabilities, those with existing underlying health conditions, and the elderly.
Original source: UN News
Published on 14 May 2020