WHO Director-General warns that “worst is yet to come” in coronavirus pandemic
5051 Min Read
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, warned this evening that “the worst is yet ahead of us” with regard to the global impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Ghebreyesus made comparisons with the 1918 flu which took the life of tens of millions around the world, but insisted that the world today has the technology and knowledge to avoid such extent of a crisis.
However, he warned against any complacency. “Let’s prevent this tragedy,” he said. “It’s a virus that many people still don’t understand.” His comments seemed to be an indirect jibe at US President Donald Trump who in recent days has came in open conflict with a number of governors after urging them to re-open their states, despite strong warnings by health experts. Dr Anthony Fauci, the US top infectious disease expert has warned that opening too soon could provoke a terrible resurgence of the virus.
A number of European and Asian countries have also began to ease restrictions, by allowing a number of shops or schools to re-open. In some cases, countries who seemed accelerate the reduction in restrictions, such as Singapore, have witnessed a new spike in cases.
According to the latest data by John Hopkins University, more than 2.5 million persons around the world have now been infected.
