The World Health Organization has warned that the deadly coronavirus will be around for a long time as it said the world has a long way to go to defeat it.
The head of the global body, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday that he was worried about surge in coronavirus cases in Africa, Central and South America and Eastern Europe.
The pandemic however appears to be stabilizing in most parts of western Europe, but for many countries the disease was just getting started, according to the WHO head.
Ghebreyesus told a video news conference in Geneva that “Make no mistake, we have a long way to go. This virus will be with us for a long time.”
He said some countries that appeared to be doing well in the initial stages of the pandemic are now seeing an upsurge in cases.
“Most countries are still in the early stages of their epidemics and some that were affected early in the pandemic are now starting to see a resurgence in cases,” he said.
“And some that were affected early in the pandemic 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”-@DrTedros #COVID19
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) April 22, 2020
Global devastation
Globally, almost 2.5 million cases of COVID19 have now been reported and more than 160,000 deaths as at April 22, 2020.
Last week the World Health Organization also warned countries around the world against lifting lockdown restrictions meant to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had said that “Lifting so-called lockdown restrictions is not the end of the epidemic in any country; it’s just the beginning of the next phase.”
“One of the greatest dangers we face now is complacency. People in countries with #StayHome orders are understandably frustrated with being confined to their homes for weeks on end”-@DrTedros #COVID19
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) April 22, 2020
Across the United States, protesters have been pushing for an end to lockdown restrictions while other European countries are planning to ease restrictions.
Tedros said “It’s vital in this next phase [of the pandemic] that countries educate, engage and empower their people to prevent and respond rapidly to any resurgence”.
He said countries must also “ensure they have the capacity to detect, test, isolate and care for every case, and trace every contact,” adding they must also “ensure their health systems have the capacity to absorb any increase in cases.”
Africa’s low coronavirus outbreak rate baffles health experts
Source: Africafeeds.com
