The world has never been in a better position to end the COVID-19 pandemic that has killed millions since late 2019, the head of the World Health Organization said on Wednesday.
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“Last week, the number of weekly deaths from COVID-19 was the lowest since March 2020. We have never been in a better position to end the epidemic,” Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a press conference in Geneva.
However, he warned: “We’re not there yet, but the end is near.”
“A marathon runner does not stop when he sees the finish line. He sprints with all the energy he has left. So are we,” said the WHO chief.
“We can all see the finish line and we are on course for victory, but it would be a very bad time to stop the race,” he insisted.
“If we do not take advantage of this opportunity, we run the risk of having more variations, more deaths, more disruptions and more uncertainty”, Dr. Tedros underlines, calling to “seize this opportunity”.
According to the latest epidemiological report on Covid-19, released after the WHO press conference, the number of cases fell by 28% in the week from September 5 to 11 to 3.1 million compared to the previous week.
Over the same period the death toll fell by 22% to less than 11,000.
The number of infections is undoubtedly much higher, especially as mild cases are not necessarily reported, but because many countries have more or less eliminated their testing capacity.
The organization’s study, based on projections and estimates released in May, projected 13 to 17 million additional deaths from Covid-19 by the end of 2021.
Dr. At the same time as Tedros issued his message of hope, the WHO issued six guidelines for member states to quickly reverse the health crisis, which has stalled for months and cost trillions of euros in terms of development. Entire segments of the global economy and the world’s inequities were exposed, particularly in terms of vaccination.
Rich countries monopolize available doses and vaccination rates in many poor countries are still inadequate.
The recommendations are “an urgent call for governments to take a serious look at their policies and strengthen them against COVID-19 and future pathogens that could cause a pandemic,” the UN chief underlined.
Among these recommendations, the WHO has been repeating messages for almost 2 years and the arrival of vaccines: vaccinate 100% of vulnerable populations and health workers, continue testing and genetic sequencing programs, which help especially to monitor new clues. Dangerous variations.
“Together we can stop this epidemic, but only if countries, businesses, communities and individuals step up and seize the opportunity,” Dr Tedros said.
“We are still dealing with a virus that has demonstrated more than once over the past two years how easily it can change and adapt,” WHO emergency manager Dr Michael Ryan stressed.
