WHO officials warn against 'magical thinking' regarding lockdowns -  COVID-19 briefing 

The word “lockdown” has become a new addition to our vocabularies under COVID-19, but the word is often misconstrued and misunderstood, World Health Organization (WHO) officials warned at a briefing in Geneva on Wednesday. Such misunderstandings can erode public support for key public health measures or weaken a country’s ability to effectively fight the virus.

There is no universal definition for what constitutes a lockdown.

Lockdowns, explained Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO Technical Lead, are a set of measures countries have taken that include individual- and community-level restrictions of movement. They can include full- or partial closures of different types of facilities, such as schools or workplaces.

“I think there's this misconception that a lockdown is one thing...it's not," Van Kerkhove said.

Not all countries have needed to close all types of facilities, she added. Some countries have been able to control the virus and still leave workplaces open, or even bars and nightclubs.

“The word 'lockdown' makes it sound like an entire country has shut down overnight," she said. "And it's it's just not the case. It isn't an all or nothing.”

Importantly, lockdowns alone cannot eradicate COVID-19. They are one part of a larger six-part strategy WHO officials outlined in March. These measures, along with testing and tracing, can help track and slow the spread of the virus. They can be applied by any country, regardless of its transmission phase. "It must be a comprehensive approach," said Van Kerkhove.

As lockdowns have differed across countries, the measures to lift them will differ as well. “It's going to take some time to come out of this pandemic...which will differ based on the country itself," Van Kerkhove said.

But some countries still don't understand the part that lockdowns play in a larger strategy, the WHO cautioned. “There’s some magical thinking going on...that lockdowns work perfectly and that unlocking lockdowns will go great," said Michael J. Ryan, Chief Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme.

Since the outbreak began last December, there have been more than 4 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 around the globe. According to WHO officials, risk remains high at national, regional and global levels - and vigilance will continue to be key. “There's a long, long way to go,” stressed Ryan.