The World Health Organization urged governments Monday to engage with people demonstrating against Covid-19 restrictions and listen to their concerns, but stressed protesters needed to understand the virus was dangerous. Asked about recent demonstrations in a number of countries against coronavirus restrictions, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it was important to “listen to what people are asking, what people are saying”.
German police on Saturday halted a Berlin march by tens of thousands of people opposed to coronavirus restrictions in the biggest of several European protests against facemask rules and other anti-virus curbs. Several hundred of the Berlin protesters then broke through barriers and a police cordon to storm Germany’s parliament, in a move German Chancellor Angela Merkel condemned as “shameful”. Speaking about the broader protests, WHO emergencies chief Michael Ryan pointed out that “epidemics and emergencies create strong emotions, and acceptance of measures is always very, very tough.
While acknowledging the importance of allowing different viewpoints to be heard, Tedros took issue with the opinions voiced by some that high death rates were not really a concern if it is mainly the elderly who are dying. Tedros voiced understanding for the growing frustration felt as people continue to have to deal with restrictions eight months into the pandemic. The UN health agency, he stressed, “fully supports efforts to re-open economies and societies… but we want to see it done safely.” One major thing countries could do to control the virus is prevent so-called “amplifying events” like filling stadiums with sports fans, large religious gatherings or packed nightclubs.
Source: DJ
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