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		</div><p>The European director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned national governments against reducing the quarantine period for people potentially exposed to coronavirus.</p>
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<p>Dr Hans Kluge acknowledged Covid-19 “fatigue” is setting in, with growing public resistance to the measures, but said “even a slight reduction in the length of the quarantine” could have a significant effect on the spread of the virus. He said coronavirus has returned to “alarming rates of transmission” in Europe this month.</p>
<p>Dr Kluge insisted countries should only reduce the standard two-week quarantine period if it is scientifically justified. He offered to convene scientific discussions on the issue, if necessary.</p>
<p>WHO Europe’s 53-country region has recorded more than 300,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in the last week and more than half of the countries reported a rise of more than 10% in cases over the last two weeks, he said.</p>
<p>Of those countries, seven had their cases jump by more than two-fold. Such statistics should be “a wake-up call for all of us”, Dr Kluge said. He called for “regional coherence” and said Europe’s response has been effective when “prompt and resolute”. Dr Kluge added: “But the virus has shown (to be) merciless whenever partisanship and disinformation prevailed.”</p>
<p>Last week, France cut its required quarantine time for people possibly exposed to someone with Covid-19 from 14 days to seven, saying many people do not observe the full two-week period anyway.</p>
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<p>Katie Smallwood, WHO Europe’s senior health emergency officer, said its recommendation that people quarantine themselves for 14 days after a possible exposure is based on the agency’s understanding of the disease’s incubation period and transmission patterns.</p>
<p>“We would only revise that on a basis of a change in our understanding of the science, and so far that’s not the case,” she said.</p>
<p>Ms Smallwood added several countries are considering reducing their required quarantine periods, a move that is not endorsed by WHO.<br />
“We would really re-emphasise that our position is that a 14-day quarantine is important for patients that have been exposed to the virus,” she said.</p>
<p>The two WHO Europe officials both wore masks during the video conference from Copenhagen.<br />
Dr Kluge said his decision to wear a mask is “a clear signal that we are going into a worsening situation”.<br />
“At the moment … we see a fatigue and resistance in the behaviour that is helpful” in fighting the virus,” he explained.</p>
<p>“It’s very important to give a signal, and certainly it’s a strong sign of solidarity.”<br />
Dr Kluge said past successes in Europe suggest the continent is capable of suppressing the virus’ recent rebound.</p>
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<p>“In the spring and early summer, we were able to see the impact of strict lockdown measures,” he said.<br />
“Our efforts, our sacrifices, paid off. In June, cases hit an all-time low.<br />
“The September case numbers, however, should serve as a wake-up call for all of us.”</p>
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