WHO: Covid situation worsening worldwide

Urges world not to drop guard as pandemic is yet to peak in many countries

The World Health Organization said yesterday that the coronavirus pandemic situation is worsening around the globe, warning against complacency.

“Although the situation in Europe is improving, globally it is worsening,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual news conference in Geneva.

The agency urged countries to press on with efforts to contain the novel coronavirus, noting the pandemic had not peaked in central America. More than 136,000 cases were reported worldwide on Sunday, “the most in a single day so far”, Tedros said.

“More than six months into the pandemic, this is not the time for any country to take its foot off the pedal,” he told an online briefing.

In response to a question on China, WHO’s top emergencies expert, Dr Mike Ryan, said retrospective studies of how the outbreak has been addressed could wait, adding: “We need to focus now on what we are doing today to prevent second peaks.” Ryan also said infections in central American countries including Guatemala were still on the rise, and that they were “complex” epidemics.

“I think this is a time of great concern,” he said, calling for strong government leadership and international support for the region.

Ryan said Brazil’s data had been “extremely detailed” so far but stressed it was important for Brazilians to understand where the virus is and how to manage risk.

Maria van Kerkhove, a WHO epidemiologist, said that a “comprehensive approach” was essential in South America.