WHO cautions “We’re only at the beginning of this fight”

A dire lack of protective gear for health workers battling the COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most pressing threats in the fight to prevent deaths, the World Health Organization has warned.

“The chronic global shortage of personal protective equipment is now one of the most urgent threats to our collective ability to save lives,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual news conference in Geneva on Friday.

Media briefing on #COVID19 with @DrTedros. #coronavirus https://t.co/VDzh2GSuPM

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 27, 2020

“Health workers in low- and middle-income countries deserve the same protection as those in the wealthiest countries,” he said.

"When #healthworkers are at risk, we’re all at risk.

Health workers in low- & middle-income countries deserve the same protection as those in the wealthiest countries"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 27, 2020

Tedros said the WHO had shipped almost two million individual items of personal protective equipment (PPE) to 74 countries and was preparing to send a similar amount to a further 60 countries.

“This problem can only be solved with international cooperation and solidarity,” said Tedros.

See also: WHO warns countries will have to ‘live with’ coronavirus until vaccines emerges

He said he had urged the G20 countries to use their “industrial might and innovation” to produce and distribute the tools needed to save more lives.

“We must also make a promise to future generations, saying: ‘never again’,” Tedros added.

“We’re only at the beginning of this fight. We need to stay calm, stay united and work together,” Tedros said.

“These are tragic numbers. But let’s also remember that around the world, more than 100,000 people have recovered”, he added.

 

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