‘Don’t treat the Covid-19 pandemic like it’s over,” says World Health Organistion head
- Declining coronavirus infection levels and increasing rates of vaccination show progress, but the danger hasn’t passed yet
- The WHO Director-General advocated for consistent public health measures and equal vaccine distribution
World Health Organisation Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it would be a ‘monumental error’ to treat the pandemic as over. Photo: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images/TNSDespite declining Covid-19 infection levels and increasing rates of vaccination, we’re not out of the woods yet, said World Health Organisation Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Monday.
The mood may be lightening up in the US and elsewhere as people get their shots, and infections and deaths decline, but Covid-19 still a very real and present danger, said Tedros as the 74th World Health Assembly wrapped up.
He called on nations around the world to work together to end the pandemic and prepare for the next one, proposing a treaty on pandemic preparedness and response.
“The reality is, we still have a lot of work to do to end this pandemic,” Tedros said in his closing remarks. “We’re very encouraged that cases and deaths are continuing to decline globally, but it would be a monumental error for any country to think the danger has passed.”
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The way to continue to keep the virus at bay is to consistently and continuously deploy public health measures, and to ensure equal vaccine distribution and administration. He urged member states to aim to vaccinate at least 10 per cent of the population of all countries by the end of September, and at least 30 per cent by the end of the year.
Tedros added that the world needs to be aware of the psychological effects of the pandemic, in addition to the physical dangers it presents.