As countries across Europe remain in lockdown in the fight against coronavirus, EU Chief, Ursula von der Leyen, made a startling announcement regarding society’s most vulnerable.
Speaking to the German media, she warned that elderly people may have to be kept in isolation until December or beyond to protect them from covid-19.
The EU Chief said that without a vaccine, contact with the elderly should remain as limited as possible.
She hoped that a vaccine could be developed by the end of the year in a European laboratory which would end the need for isolation, mentioning that producers are gearing up for world production.
Her thoughts tally with a recent study from the University of Hong Kong that concluded lockdowns can’t end until a vaccine is found.
She asked the European public to remain focused on social distancing and stopping the spread of the virus, saying:
“Without a vaccine, we have to limit as much as possible contact with the elderly. I know it’s difficult and that isolation is a burden, but it is a question of life or death, we have to remain disciplined and patient.”
In Thailand, this weekend represents the start of the Songkran Festival when people traditionally travel to their hometowns to see their families. However, the Thai Government has asked people to continue practicing social distancing over the holiday period and to not travel to see relatives.
Source: The National | Photo: The Mirror
