Why did the WHO do a u-turn on travel restrictions when coronavirus spread?

political analyst

I know that some people may react to this OP with derision but the coronavirus/Covid-19 sub-forum is inactive and so I decided it was best to post the OP here:

Before Covid-19, the disease that coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 causes, was identified, the WHO advised that travel restrictions where ineffective in dealing with pandemics.

So why did the WHO do a u-turn on that advice at the start of the Covid pandemic?

Why did the WHO decide that travel restrictions were effective for dealing with Covid?

blanch152

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058402215/why-did-the-who-do-a-u-turn-on-travel-restrictions-when-coronavirus-spread

Firstly, it was countries (led by Trump in the US) who first imposed travel restrictions against WHO advice.

Secondly, travel restrictions won't stop a pandemic spreading, particularly a highly infectious one, but they can buy time. When vaccines were clearly on the way, travel restrictions to limit cases were a good idea. New Zealand managed to buy time with some very restrictive travel arrangements.

francois

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058402215/why-did-the-who-do-a-u-turn-on-travel-restrictions-when-coronavirus-spread

it's obviously a global plot by big pharma to inject Bill Gates into controlling us via miniature 5G chips

political analyst

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123258106#Comment_123258106

However, the fact that NZ and Australia introduced restrictions at a very early stage backfired on them because it meant that many people thought, when the Covid vaccination became available, that they didn't need it and so the vaccination rates were low, meaning that it spread after restrictions were initially relaxed, meaning that the final lifting of restrictions took place in those countries much later than in Europe.

Necro

Mod: Moved to COVID forum