The announcement made by the Chinese government on Wednesday that it had officially lifted the collective quarantine restrictions imposed on Wuhan, which continued for 76 days, gave a message to many in the world that the virus threat is slowing down and the virus danger is near under control.
Similar gradual actions or eases are taken in some areas of Iran but it is also a fact that situations vary not only from one country to another but also within some cities in each country. Therefore easing lockdown measures is also expected to be accordingly and effectiveness of the preventive measures in place.
In Qatar, the Spokesperson for the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management, H E Lolwah bint Rashid bin Mohammed Al Khater, in a press conference on Thursday disclosed that the government has already started work to implement a plan to gradual easing of lockdown restrictions imposed on the Industrial Area.
Despite the huge disruption and distress to lives of the people around the world caused by the lockdowns and restrictions of movement and social distancing, the measures were very essential for containing the spread of coronavirus.
Therefore, H E Al Khater underlined that the “closure experience and despite its difficulty for all, it is a necessary option in light of this crisis, and the authorities are trying in various ways to mitigate its consequences, whether on the residents of the area or on employers”.
It is not an easy decision as situation in each area differs, and decisions on which restrictions to be lifted, how to contain the virus spread and how to create a balance for saving are being taken according to specific ground realities.
H E Al Khater made it clear that “gradual opening of the Industrial Area will be done in a manner that guarantees the safety of the residents of the areas and society as a whole, as well as the return of supply chains to normal work and lifestyle in general to what it was,” noting that the details of this plan will be announced in the coming days. With the increasing hope of easing the movement restrictions, the government is giving high priority to the safety of the society, as World Health Organization (WHO) experts are still warning from hasty lifting of strict lockdowns across the world.
The Director-General of WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on Friday warned against early lifting of restrictions and curfews in many countries around the world with hope to maintain the preventive measures and social distancing to fight spread of coronavirus.
Adhanom stressed that easing lockdowns, curfews or travel bans can contribute to return of pandemic and will make it difficult to get rid of the virus threat to human lives.
