No return to ‘old normal’ for foreseeable future: WHO chief
Geneva, Switzerland |
XINHUA |
"There will be no return to the "old normal" for the
foreseeable future as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and too many
countries are still headed in the wrong direction, the chief of the World
Health Organization (WHO) warned on Monday.
"The virus remains
public enemy number one, but the actions of many governments and people do not
reflect this," said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at
a regular briefing on Monday.
He noted that mixed
messages from leaders are undermining trust, which is the most critical
ingredient of any response, while the only aim of the virus is to find people
to infect.
Things are going to
"get worse and worse and worse," he warned, unless governments
communicate clearly with their citizens and roll out a comprehensive strategy
focused on suppressing transmission and saving lives, while populations follow
the basic public health principles of physical distancing, hand washing,
wearing masks, coughing etiquette and staying home when sick.
COVID-19 has been
gaining its momentum lately. According to the WHO chief, Sunday saw a record of
230,000 cases reported to WHO, of which almost 80 percent were from just 10
countries and about half from just two countries.
"But it does not
have to be this way," Dr. Tedros implored, asking every single leader,
government and individual "to do their bit to break the chains of COVID-19
transmission and end the collective suffering."
To control the disease
and get on with people's lives, Dr. Tedros said, three things are required. The
first is to focus on reducing mortality and suppressing transmission; the
second is to focus on an empowered, engaged community that takes individual
behavior measures in the interest of each other. And the third is a strong
government leadership and coordination of comprehensive strategies that are
communicated clearly and consistently.
"We weren't
prepared collectively, but we must use all the tools we have to bring this
pandemic under control. And we need to do it right now," he added."
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