Still ‘a long way to go’ in coronavirus battle, WHO chief warns

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned against complacency as countries continue to confront COVID-19 and citizens grow weary of stay-at-home measures aimed at preventing the spread of the disease.

Speaking on Wednesday, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reported that most countries are still in the very early stages of their epidemics, while some that had been affected earlier are now starting to see a resurgence in cases.

“Make no mistake: we have a long way to go. This virus will be with us for a long time”, he stated.

The global COVID-19 caseload has reached nearly 2.5 million, and more than 160,000 deaths.

"There’s no question that #StayHome orders and other physical distancing measures have successfully suppressed transmission in many countries.

But this virus remains extremely dangerous"-@DrTedros #COVID19

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) April 22, 2020

While most of the epidemics in Western Europe appear to be stable or declining, “worrying upward trends” are visible in Africa, Central America, South America and Eastern Europe, despite low case numbers.

Tedros told journalists that although lockdowns and physical distancing have helped suppress transmission in many countries, the virus remains “extremely dangerous”.

Most of the global population continues to be highly susceptible, which means epidemics can easily re-ignite.

Tired of being home
“One of the greatest dangers we face now is complacency. People in countries with stay-at-home orders are understandably frustrated with being confined to their homes for weeks on end”, he said.

“People understandably want to get on with their lives, because their lives and livelihoods are at stake. That’s what WHO wants too. And that’s what we are working for, all day, every day.”

However, Tedros said moving forward will have to mean accepting “a new normal”, and forging a world that is healthier, safer and better prepared.

He underlined the six public health measures WHO has been advocating since the pandemic started, which centre around detection, isolation, testing, treatment and quarantine

The last step involves educating and empowering the public.

“Countries that don’t do these six central things, and do them consistently, will see more cases, and more lives will be lost”, said Tedros.

In addition to fighting the new coronavirus disease, WHO is also working to stamp out related stigma and discrimination.

There have been “disturbing reports” about COVID-19 discrimination in many countries, and in all regions, according to Tedros.

“Stigma and discrimination are never acceptable anywhere at anytime, and must be fought in all countries”, he said, adding, “as I have said many times, this is a time for solidarity, not stigma”.

Report from UN News website