WHO: More Stringent Measures Needed to Stop Covid-19

The World Health Organization’s emergencies chief said Friday that as the number of global deaths approaches 1 million, “a number much higher” was entirely possible unless more stringent measures are taken to stop the coronavirus.

“1 million is a terrible number,” said Dr. Michael Ryan at a press briefing on Friday.

“I think we need to reflect on that before we start considering a second million,” he said, adding that countries still had numerous tools at their disposal to slow the pandemic, including significantly boosting testing and contact tracing systems.

Ryan also called for greater investment into WHO’s fund to develop therapeutics, tests and vaccines; the agency says $35 billion is needed to develop the necessary tools to end the acute phase of the pandemic.

“Are we willing to take the multilateral action, the collective global action to take control of this virus rather than this virus controlling our destinies?” he asked.

“If we don’t take those actions and we don’t continue to escalate…we will be looking at (1 million) and sadly, a number much higher.”

Dr. Bruce Aylward, a senior adviser to WHO’s director-general, said whether or not more people die of COVID-19 does not depend on the discovery of an effective vaccine.

“If we start thinking about it as a function of the vaccine, people will unnecessarily and unacceptably die,” he said.

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