WHO: Reopening Wet Food Markets Must Conform To Strict Standards

By Staff, Agencies

Any "wet markets" that are allowed to reopen after coronavirus lockdowns must conform to stringent food and hygiene standards, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a briefing Friday.

Suspicion has fallen on a market selling live animals in the Chinese city of Wuhan as the possible origin of the new coronavirus.

"When these markets are allowed to reopen, it should only be on condition they conform to stringent food and hygiene standards," Tedros said. "Governments must rigorously enforce bans on trade of wildlife for food."