Citing recommendations by the World Health Organization, Maria Van Kerkhove, a leading infectious diseases expert at the health body, said, “What we’re worried about is that with the introduction of vaccines…in a number of countries, we still need people to carry out their individual-level measures.”
These include carrying out physical distancing, working from home, wearing a mask, and hand hygiene.
People should also seek adequate ventilation, opening windows and avoiding crowded spaces as “we have quite a way to go to continue to drive transmission down.”
Mike Ryan, head of the WHO’s emergencies program, noted, “We may be relaxing a little before we’ve got the full impact of vaccination. And I know everyone is just so tired of this and so exhausted and weary.”
He said every time countries relaxed too soon, “the number of cases has risen rapidly,” along with hospitalizations following by climbing deaths.