WHO asks countries to lift COVID-19 travel bans

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has asked nations to ease COVID-19 travel restrictions.

The global health body said the restrictions are hazardous to economic boom and have confirmed to have little public health value.

On January 13, the WHO emergency committee on international health regulations met to evaluate the trendy trends in the pandemic scenario throughout the world.

The assembly also sought to revisit the COVID-19 response measures.

According to the statement launched by WHO on Wednesday, “the committee identified the following moves as essential for all countries; raise or ease worldwide site visitors bans”.

“They do not provide added value and continue to contribute to the economic and social stress experienced by states parties,” the statement reads.

“The failure of travel restrictions introduced after the detection and reporting of Omicron variant to limit international spread of Omicron demonstrates the ineffectiveness of such measures over time..

“Countries have to depend on evidence-informed hazard assessment when deciding on to introduce travel requirements, namely masking, testing, vaccination, and quarantine, and avoid setting the economic burden on worldwide travellers.”

The WHO stated due to the restricted international access and inequitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, proof of vaccination requirement for worldwide journey must no longer be the “only pathway or situation enabling global travel”.

It urged international countries to recognize all vaccines that have received WHO authorisation, especially in the context of worldwide travel.

“State Parties must think about a risk-based strategy to the facilitation of global journey by means of lifting or enhancing measures, such as testing and/or quarantine requirements, when appropriate, in accordance with the WHO guidance,” the assertion reads.

“Recognize all vaccines that have acquired WHO Emergency Use Listing and all heterologous vaccine combinations as per SAGE recommendations, along with in the context of global travel. 

“States Parties are additionally requested to help lookup to derive the most suitable vaccination strategy for lowering infection, morbidity and mortality.”

At present, the WHO has accredited 10 COVID-19 vaccines, along with Covovax, Moderna, Comirnaty, Janssen, Astrazeneca, Covishield, Covaxin, Sinovac and Sinopharm.