The 6 criteria the World Health Organisation says we need to meet before lifting lockdown.

As the number of confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide surpasses two million, countries that are already through the worst of the pandemic are beginning to look towards restoring normal life.

In the Italian region of Veneto, one of the country’s most infected areas, officials are loosening some restrictions on movement to allow residents to be able to leave their homes for exercise while green-lighting open air markets.

In Spain some 300,000 workers have returned to their jobs in Madrid.

Wuhan – the Chinese city where the virus first started in December 2019 – has reopened after two months in lockdown.

WATCH: Greg Hunt outlines Australia’s path out of coronavirus lockdown. Post continues after video.

But health officials are concerned that halting quarantine and social distancing measures too soon, could easily undo hard earned progress.

As the death toll surpasses 110,000, governments around the world are playing a delicate game. Balancing the need to keep people safe from the virus while also making sure they can still make a living or have enough to eat.

The current COVID-19 figures.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has advised extreme caution, with expert Michael Ryan saying: “Now is the time for vigilance. Now is the time to be very, very careful.”

In fact WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says any country wishing to take the first steps back to normality must meet several conditions:

1. Community transmission is controlled.
2. Health system capacities are in place to detect, test, isolate and treat every case and trace every contact.
3. Outbreak risks are minimised in special settings like health facilities and nursing homes.
4. Preventive measures are in place in workplaces, schools and other places where it’s essential for people to go.
5. Importation risks can be managed.
6. Communities are fully educated, engaged and empowered to adjust to the “new norm”.

Tedros warned that while the coronavirus spreads quickly, it retreats slowly, and restrictions shouldn’t be lifted “all at once.”

“We know that in some countries, #COVID19 cases are doubling every 3 to 4 days.

However, while COVID-19 accelerates very fast, it decelerates much more slowly.

In other words, the way down is much slower than the way up”-@DrTedros #coronavirus

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) April 13, 2020

Australia has seen a huge drop in new coronavirus infections in recent days as the majority heeded the Easter long weekend warnings to stay indoors and practice social distancing.

There have only been 46 new cases recorded in the past 24 hours, with 61 people confirmed dead.

Over the weekend, Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said Australia is “in a good place” in the fight against COVID-19 while the Health Minister said on Monday we had one of the lowest fatality rates in the world.

The federal government says it is “actively planning the road out” of COVID-19 restrictions, with Greg Hunt telling reporters yesterday there were three key elements the government need to tick off before pulling Australia out of lockdown.

The first, is clear data that shows all our COVID-19 numbers are dropping, the second is the capability to respond rapidly to new cases, and the third, a gradual plan to relax restrictions.

Feature image: Getty.

To protect yourself and the community from COVID-19, keep at least 1.5 metres away from other people, regularly wash your hands and avoid touching your face.
If you are sick and believe you have symptoms of COVID-19, call your GP ahead of time to book an appointment. Or call the national Coronavirus Health Information Line for advice on 1800 020 080. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.
To keep up to date with the latest information, please visit the Department of Health website.