WHO says countries should keep borders open, trade and people moving despite coronavirus

A woman wearing a face mask rides her bicycle in front of a registration point for people leaving or returning to Beijing, as the country is hit by an outbreak of the new coronavirus, in Beijing, China on January 31. (REUTERS Photo)

GENEVA, January 31 (Reuters): Borders should be kept open and people and trade flowing in the face of the coronavirus outbreak, although countries have a sovereign right to take measures to try to protect their citizens, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.

The WHO, which declared the accelerating outbreak a global emergency on Thursday, voiced fresh concern that the virus could spread undetected in a country with a weak health system.

There is a "huge reason to keep official border crossings open" to avoid people entering irregularly and going unchecked for symptoms, WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier told a Geneva briefing. "If travel restrictions would be imposed we hope they are as short-lived as possible to try to continue the normal flow of life," he added.