On Feb. 4, 2020, the World Health Organization warned against banning travel to and from China as COVID-19 cases surged past 20,000.
Nearly one year later, total global COVID-19 cases have nearly reached 105 million, and deaths have reached nearly 2.3 million, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
“We reiterate our call to all countries not to impose restrictions inconsistent with the International Health Regulations. Such restrictions can have the effect of increasing fear and stigma, with little public health benefit,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a Jan. 4, 2020, executive board session.
At the time, 22 countries had reported implementing travel restrictions to WHO, Tedros added.
“Where such…