The World Health Organisation has released six criteria it wants countries to meet before they allow residents to go back to normal and lift the coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

The UK is currently in week four of the lockown set out by the government, and it looks as if it will stay this way for a few more weeks.

Experts have warned lifting restrictions too quickly could result in a deadly resurgence of the virus.

The WHO wants communities to be made fully aware of the "new norm" and also wants the NHS to be able to treat every case and trace every contact, which is something it is not currently doing.

WHO chief Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus said: “While covid-19 accelerates very fast, it decelerates much more slowly. In other words, the way down is much slower than the way up.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization

“That means control measures must be lifted slowly, and with control. It cannot happen all at once." 

He added: “Each government must assess their situation, while protecting all their citizens, and especially the most vulnerable. 

“Control measures can only be lifted if the right public health measures are in place, including significant capacity for contact tracing.”

To support countries in making these decisions, WHO will be publishing its updated strategic advice. The new strategy summarizes what it has learned and charts the way forward. It includes six criteria for countries as they consider lifting restrictions:

Full list of WHO criteria:

  1. Transmission is controlled

  2. Health system capacities are in place to detect, test, isolate and treat every case and trace every contact

  3. Outbreak risks are minimised in special settings like health facilities and nursing homes

  4. Preventive measures are in place in workplaces, schools and other places where it’s essential for people to go

  5. Importation risks can be managed

  6. Communities are fully educated, engaged and empowered to adjust to the ‘new norm’

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Every country should be implementing a comprehensive set of measures to slow down transmission and save lives, with the aim of reaching a steady state of low-level or no transmission. 

Countries must strike a balance between measures that address the mortality caused by COVID-19, and by other diseases due to overwhelmed health systems, as well as the social economic impacts.

As the pandemic has spread, its public health and socioeconomic impacts have been profound, and have disproportionately affected the vulnerable. Many populations have already experienced a lack of access to routine, essential health services.

"Our global connectedness means the risk of re-introduction and resurgence of the disease will continue.

"Ultimately, the development and delivery of a safe and effective vaccine will be needed to fully interrupt transmission", Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus said.

But while some countries are considering how to ease restrictions, others are considering whether to introduce them, especially many low and middle income countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

In countries with large poor populations, the stay-at-home orders and other restrictions used in some high-income countries may not be practical.

Denmark is set to reopen its primary schools from today, while the Czech Republic has already opened some shops.

But France has said it will continue its lockdown until at least May 11.

President Macron addressed the nation to say: "We have to continue our efforts.

"The more the rules are respected the more lives will be saved.

That is why I am announcing the strict lockdown will continue until Monday, May 11.”

He added: “I appreciate the effort I am asking of you.

“There is new hope but nothing is won at the moment, the epidemic is not under control.”