WHO recommends Europeans stay home for Christmas and avoid family reunions due to second wave of coronavirus

World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe stressed this Friday that The safest way to avoid the spread of coronavirus is to avoid visiting your relatives for Christmas and staying home.

“There is a difference between what the authorities allow you to do and what you should do. The safest thing now is to stay home. “, recommended in a statement by the WHO-Europe Director, Hans Kluge.

The regional head of the entity appealed to “The collective spirit” presented during the coronavirus pandemic to cope with the possible effects on mental health, as a result of the restrictions and prisons decreed in these months that may be aggravated with the coming of Christmas.

“It simply came to our notice then even if you are separated from your loved ones, you are not alone. Reactivate the collective spirit that existed during the crisis: communicate, connect, supportKluge pointed out.

The director of the WHO-based European office in Copenhagen recalled The “terrible” impact of the pandemic, with 23 million cases on the continent and more than half a million deaths, while the transmission is still on “Intense and wide” and the highest rates of new cases are recorded throughout the crisis.

Use of masks at family gatherings

WHO-Europe had recommended this week wearing masks at Christmas family gatherings, while warning about the risk of a third wave in the first months of 2021.

“The meetings should take place outdoor spaces, if possible, and participants must wear face masks and keep physical distance. Indoors, limit the size of the group and ensure good ventilation reducing the risk of exposure are essential, ”the entity said in a statement.

Indoor meetings can be special dangerous because groups of people of different houses and ages come together and who can not adopting the same preventive measures, argues WHO.

“It may seem awkward to wear masks and exercise physical distance with friends and family, but this contributes significantly to everyone’s safety and health,” says the body, which also recommends avoid congestion in transport.

Religious holidays and shopping

For religious holidays and processions and Christmas markets, WHO proposes to consider “Seriously” reducing or postponing it in countries with extended Community transmission.

Religious services should be at fresh air, when possible, or limited size and duration, with physical distance, ventilation, hygiene and masksregardless of the epidemic situation in the area concerned.

“Despite the fragile progress, the COVID-19 transmission in the European region remains enlarged and intense. There exists high risk of a new wave in the first weeks and months of 2021, and we must all work together if we are to succeed in preventing it, “warns the WHO.

The agency appealed to individual responsibility and called for us not to underestimate the importance of personal and community decisions in the evolution of the coronavirus pandemic.

Regarding winter sports vacations, the organization noted that “skiing does not spread COVID-19, but crowded mountain resorts do.” “Although the marking of this year’s holiday may seem different, we can still make the most of it,” the statement said.

WITH INFORMATION FROM EFE

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