European nations urged to keep up coronavirus quarantines

Dr Kluge insisted countries should only reduce the standard two-week quarantine period for travellers if it is scientifically justified (Armando Franca/AP)

The European director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned national governments against reducing the quarantine period for people potentially exposed to coronavirus.

Dr Hans Kluge acknowledged Covid-19 “fatigue” is setting in, with growing public resistance to the measures, but said “even a slight reduction in the length of the quarantine” could have a significant effect on the spread of the virus.