Respect rights in virus lockdown: UN China may lift quarantine over Hubei

Geneva, March 6: Governments using lockdowns and quarantines to fight the deadly new coronavirus must ensure people’s rights are respected and avoid unintended consequences, the UN rights chief said on Friday.

Michelle Bachelet said the response to the Covid19 disease caused by the virus must place human dignity and rights at its centre. Her office said lockdowns, quarantines and similar measures

“should always be carried out in strict accordance with human rights standards and in a way that is necessary and proportionate”. Bachelet’s comments came as the number of people infected worldwide crossed 100,000 across 89 nations, with more than 3,400 lives lost.

“As a medical doctor, I understand the need for a range of steps to combat Covid-19, and as a former head of government, I understand the often difficult balancing act when

Beijing, March 6: China may soon lift the quarantine imposed on the province at the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak which has been under lockdown for more than a month, a senior government official hinted.

Asked about the draconian measures taken in

hard decisions need to be taken,” Bachelet said. “However our efforts to

Hubei province to contain the spread of the virus, Ding Xiangyang, deputy secretary-general of China’s State Council, told journalists “the day everyone is waiting for will not be too far away”. Some 56 million people in Hubei were quarantined. combat this virus won’t work unless we approach it holistically.”.