Coronavirus: World Health Organisation boss tells over-60s to avoid crowded areas Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also urged people in this age group to skip routine appointments at GP surgeries and in hospitals.

The head of the World Health Organisation has urged everyone over the age of 60 to avoid crowded areas including trains, buses and even supermarkets to prevent catching coronavirus.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also urged people in this age group to skip routine appointments at GP surgeries and in hospitals.

The WHO director general told his 500,000 Twitter followers: “If you are 60+, or have an underlying condition like cardiovascular disease, a respiratory condition or diabetes, you have a higher risk of developing severe #COVID19. Try to avoid crowded areas, or places where you might interact with people who are sick.”

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He also said: “It’s normal & understandable to feel anxious, especially if your country or community has been affected by #COVID19. Seek official sources of info to protect yourself, loved ones & your community. Plan on how to stay safe at work, school or your place of worship.”

Prevention plans

Matt Hancock has said there are four phases to the Government’s coronavirus prevention plan:

Containment – caring for any infected people and identifying their close contacts

Delay – deciding what actions to take to slow down the spread

Mitigation – damage limitation if the virus spreads widely

Research – constant and ongoing work to inform the three other phases

Currently, the UK is in the “containment” phase – which health leaders say may still be sufficient.



Vulnerable worst affected

While infection is far more likely to cause severe illness in the elderly, the advice also applies to people of all ages who have serious health conditions.

Evidence from China shows that 15 per cent of those aged over 80 known to have contracted coronavirus have died. By contrast, the average death rate among all cases is around two per cent.

WHO spokesman Dr Margaret Harris said that older people needed to consider changing their day-to-day routines because ‘avoiding catching this virus is the best outcome’.

She advised them to stay off the underground, trains and buses, and avoid football matches and other sports events because of close proximity to those who might be harbouring the virus. People should even think twice about going to busy shops and supermarkets.

“Rather than going to the shops to get things, think about everything you can order remotely,” she said.