Page - 524 - in VULNERABLE - The Law, Policy and Ethics of COVID-19

VULNERABLE524 Lockdowns cannot have the effect of setting back progress and peo- ple’s welfare irreversibly, that is, of delivering “economic knockouts” to the vulnerable. Most casual labourers, petty businesses reliant on daily cash turnover, and others in the “informal” economy find it especially difficult to survive extended lockdowns. Although they need more relief support than others, they are often difficult for governments to reach. Those living in crammed conditions, for example in urban slums, cannot realistically be expected to consistently practise safe distancing, but can nonetheless be enabled to sustainably take other precautionary measures within their modest means, for example, by using washable masks in public areas. Country Policy Response Lessons China Many countries have restricted freedom of movement through lock- downs, citing China’s response in Wuhan.20 However, Bruce Aylward, leader of the WHO fact-finding mission to China, clarified, The majority of the response in China, in 30 provinces, was about case finding, contact tracing, and suspension of public gather- ings—all common measures used anywhere in the world to man- age [infectious] diseases… The lockdown people are referring to … was concentrated in Wuhan and two or three other cities … that got out of control in the beginning … the key learning from China is … all about the speed. The faster you can find the cases, isolate the cases, and track their close contacts, the more success- ful you’re going to be.21 Therefore, the varied Chinese experiences suggest that resources should be concentrated on rapid and early detection, isolation and contact tracing, protecting the most vulnerable, and treating the infected, regardless of means, instead of mainly relying on strict, but typically “blunt” lockdown measures due to failure to act earlier. 20. “Lockdowns and Entry Bans Imposed Around the World to Fight Coronavirus” (15 March 2020), online: Reuters <https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health- coronavirus/lockdowns-and-entry-bans-imposed-around-the-world-to-fight- coronavirus-idUSKBN21208S>. 21. Julia Belluz, “China’s Cases of Covid-19 are Finally Declining. A WHO Expert Explains Why”, Vox (3 March 2020), online: <https://www.vox.com/2020/3/2/ 21161067/coronavirus-covid19-china>.