China Daily Global Edition (USA)
Virus ‘storm’ far from over, WHO warns
With curbs scarce, agency’s chief says nations should not lower their guard
The World Health Organization warned on Sunday that COVID-19 is still a threat despite moves by many nations to lift social restrictions aimed at stopping its spread.
More than 6 million deaths from COVID-19 have been reported to the WHO, but the organization’s latest estimates show that the actual number of fatalities is much higher, at almost 15 million.
At the opening of the 75th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the reported infections have declined significantly from the peak of the wave brought on by the Omicron variant of the virus in January. And reported deaths are at their lowest since March 2020.
“In many countries, all restrictions have been lifted, and life looks much like it did before the pandemic,” he told participants from the 194 countries attending the first in-person assembly since the coronavirus emerged in late 2019. “So, it is over? No, it’s most certainly not over.”
While 60 percent of the world’s population is vaccinated, Tedros reiterated that “it’s not over anywhere until it’s over everywhere”.
According to the WHO, reported COVID-19 cases are increasing in almost 70 countries in all regions at a time when testing rates have plummeted, and reported deaths are rising in many continents, especially those with the lowest vaccination coverage.
“The virus has surprised us at every turn, a storm that has torn through communities again and again, and we still can’t predict its path, or its intensity,” Tedros said. “We lower our guard at our peril.”
He warned that increasing transmission rates mean more deaths, especially among the unvaccinated, and more risk of a new variant emerging.
And he noted that almost 1 billion people in lower-income countries remain unvaccinated while 57 countries have vaccinated 70 percent of their populations; almost all in the latter camp are high-income places.
“We must continue to support all countries to reach 70 percent vaccination coverage as soon as possible, including 100 percent of those aged
over 60, 100 percent of health workers, and 100 percent of those with underlying conditions,” said Tedros, who will start a second fiveyear term as head of the global health body.
The theme for this year’s assembly, which ends on Saturday, is “Health for peace, peace for health”.
Challenging time
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the assembly is being held at a time when global health is being challenged by climate change, pollution, conflicts, deepening poverty, and inequality, and with these problems stretching underfunded health systems.
“The pandemic is a staggering reminder of the deep connection between human health and health
of the whole world, and a moral test that humanity is tragically failing because of inequitable access to vaccines and funding,” he said.
Guterres praised the WHO for its hard work in leading the fight against the pandemic. And he urged countries to support the agency by increasing investment, a top issue set to be discussed at this year’s assembly, which is the WHO’s highest-level decision-making body.
“There is no greater return on investment than health; for people, for economies and jobs, for peace and security, for our planet,” he said.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who attended the assembly in person, said the pandemic has revealed the level of inequality across the world.
“No country or sector has been spared from the devastating impact of COVID-19,” he said.
In a video message, French President Emmanuel Macron called on the world to support the WHO “relentlessly”.
“WHO is the only legitimate institution to guarantee universal health security, and to enable us, collectively, to have a coordinated and united response,” he said.
The impact of wars and conflicts will be another major topic at this year’s assembly. Tedros on Sunday talked at length and emotionally about the destruction of wars.
“I am a child of war,” said Tedros, referring to his childhood in Ethiopia. “War is bad enough. But it is made worse because it creates the conditions for disease to spread.”