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Covid-19 is taking a heavy emotional toll across Europe, generating increasing levels of apathy in some populations, warns the WHO (World Health Organization).
Recent research by the organization estimates that this “pandemic fatigue” reaches 60% of the population in some groups.
Many people feel less motivated to pursue preventive behaviors after living for months with routine changes and uncertainties, says the WHO.
Despite being tired, people should continue their efforts to fight the virus, the document says: wash their hands, cover their faces with masks and adopt social distance.
The coronavirus continues to spread around the world, with more than 35 million confirmed cases in 188 countries and more than a million deaths.
Hans Henri Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, says fatigue is expected at this stage of the crisis.
“Since the virus reached the European continent eight months ago, citizens have made enormous sacrifices to contain covid-19.”
“The cost was very high, something that has left us all, no matter where we live or what we do. In these circumstances, it is easy and natural to feel listless and unmotivated, to feel tired.
“I believe that it is possible to reinvigorate efforts to meet the changing challenges of covid-19.”
Kluge outlines strategies to get us back on track, putting community at the center of the problem:
- Understand people by regularly conducting opinion polls and acknowledging their difficulties;
- Involve communities in debates and decisions;
- Allowing people to live their lives while reducing risks and seeking innovative ways to meet the ongoing needs of society, for example by stimulating virtual meetings and delivering meals to vulnerable people.
The doctor highlighted as examples of success of this adaptation the virtual celebrations of Ramadan and the creation of floating cinemas.
The UK conducts its own regular survey of some 2,200 adults on COVID-19 and social behavior.
The most recent data indicates that:
- Almost nine out of 10 adults in Britain say they have enough information on how to protect themselves against COVID-19, a figure similar to June;
- Eight out of ten people who knew others said that they often or always maintained social distance, as in July;
- More than nine in 10 adults say they use some form of facial covering to slow the spread of the coronavirus, again similar to July.
