WHO: Covid-19 pandemic will be lengthy

Tan KW

Publish date: Sun, 02 Aug 2020, 10:20 AM

GENEVA: The World Health Organisation on Saturday warned that the coronavirus pandemic is likely to be "lengthy" after its emergency committee met to evaluate the crisis six months after sounding the international alarm.

The committee "highlighted the anticipated lengthy duration of this Covid-19 pandemic", the WHO said in a statement, and warned of the risk of "response fatigue" given the socio-economic pressures on countries.

The panel gathered on Friday for the fourth time over the coronavirus crisis, half a year on from its Jan 30 declaration of a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) – the WHO's highest level of alarm.

"WHO continues to assess the global risk level of Covid-19 to be very high," said its latest statement.

"The committee highlighted the anticipated lengthy duration of this Covid-19 pandemic, noting the importance of sustained community, national, regional, and global response efforts."

The novel coronavirus has killed at least 680,000 people and infected at least 17.6 million since the outbreak emerged in China last December, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP.

Unsurprisingly, the panel, comprising 18 members and 12 advisers, unanimously agreed that the pandemic still constituted a PHEIC.

Several countries around the world have imposed strict lockdowns in a bid to control the spread of the respiratory disease, plunging economies into sharp contraction.

The committee urged the WHO to provide nuanced, pragmatic guidance on Covid-19 reactions "to reduce the risk of response fatigue in the context of socio-economic pressures."

The panel urged the WHO to support countries in preparing for the rollout of proven therapeutics and vaccines.

The committee also urged the agency to accelerate research into the remaining "critical unknowns" of the virus, such as the animal source and potential animal reservoirs.

It called for improved understanding of the epidemiology and severity of Covid-19, including its long-term health effects.

And the committee wanted more light shed on the dynamics of the virus, such as "modes of transmission, shedding, potential mutations; immunity and correlates of protection."

The near six-hour gathering was hosted at the WHO's headquarters in Geneva, with some participants joining via video-link.

The committee will reconvene in three months' time.

Going into the meeting, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the pandemic's effects would be long-lasting.

"It's sobering to think that six months ago, when you recommended I declare a PHEIC, there were less than 100 cases and no deaths outside China," he said on Friday.

"The pandemic is a once-in-a-century health crisis, the effects of which will be felt for decades to come."

The WHO has been sharply criticised for the length of time it took to declare an international emergency.

The United States, which accused the organisation of being too close to China, officially began its withdrawal from the organisation in July.

The agency has also been criticised for recommendations deemed late or contradictory, in particular on wearing masks, or the modes of transmission of the virus.

"Many scientific questions have been resolved; many remain to be answered," Tedros said on Friday.

"Most of the world's people remain susceptible to this virus, even in areas that have experienced severe outbreaks."

- AFP

Discussions

Be the first to like this. Showing 4 of 4 comments

Pudu's Ah Fah ( Vegetable Seller)

with the 2nd wave just starting to show the escalated cases, it will be another 6 months to contain it with lock down without vaccine. Australia, Japan & Hong Kong.

MCH, close all the borders don't open it. KNN those who came back from the oversea, don't come back la, come back don't know how to follow SOP & start infecting locals. TLLM.

2020-08-02 10:52

stockraider

This stupid msia govt, why allow them to self quaratine leh ??

They should know msian no discipline mah...!!

Bcos "msia boleh culture " loh...!!

Just quarantine them 14 days...n ask them to pay their cost without subsidy mah.....!!

2020-08-02 11:04

stockraider

Russian is veli good in making vaccine u know or not leh ?

Posted by Godofgambler > Aug 2, 2020 11:23 AM | Report Abuse

HOMEPAGE
Russia is aiming for an approved COVID-19 vaccine in the next fortnight to portray itself as a global science leader, but there are major concerns over a lack of data and testing
James Pasley
Aug 1, 2020, 12:41 AM

Russian President Vladimir Putin applauds during the State Awards Ceremony at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia, June,12,2019
Russian President Vladimir Putin applauds during the State Awards Ceremony at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia. Photo by Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images
Russia is aiming to have a COVID-19 vaccine approved for public use by August 10, which would make it the first approved vaccine in the world, Russian officials told CNN.
Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund, compared the vaccine's quick development to Russia launching the first successful satellite in 1957, beating the US to it.
"It's a Sputnik moment," he said. "Americans were surprised when they heard Sputnik's beeping. It's the same with this vaccine. Russia will have got there first."

2020-08-02 11:55

DickyMe

The WHO has lost it's purpose. It's a case of the blind leading other blinds.

2020-08-02 12:17

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