Coronavirus pandemic accelerating with Americas worst, warns WHO head Tedros
20 June, 2020
The coronavirus pandemic is accelerating, with Thursday's (Jun 18) 150,000 new cases the best in one day and nearly half of these in the Americas, the Globe Health Organization (WHO) said.
"The world is in a fresh and dangerous stage," Director Basic Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual briefing from WHO headquarters in Geneva. "The virus continues to be spreading fast, it is still deadly, and many people remain susceptible."
A lot more than 8.53 million people have already been reported infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 453,834 have died, a Reuters tally confirmed by 1.26pm GMT on Friday.
Tedros, whose leadership of the Who also offers been severely criticised by US President Donald Trump, urged persons to keep social distancing and "intensive vigilance."
In addition to the Americas, a sizable number of new instances were via South Asia and the center East, Tedros added.
WHO emergencies expert Mike Ryan drew attention to the problem in Brazil, where he said there had been 1,230 additional COVID-19 deaths in the last 24 hours.
About 12 per cent of infections in Brazil involved healthcare personnel, he added, praising their bravery.
Brazil gets the world's worst outbreak outside the United States, with 978,142 confirmed cases and 47,748 deaths.
"DIFFICULT JOURNEY" TO VACCINE
With many nations easing constraints but fearful of another wave of infections, Ryan urged a gradual and scientific approach.
"Exiting lockdowns should be done carefully, found in a step-wise method, and must be driven by the info," he said. "If have no idea where it is the chances are the virus will shock you."
Ryan said the resurgence of new clusters did not necessarily mean a second wave, even while "second peaks" were also possible in one wave. The emergencies professional praised Germany, China and South Korea because of their managing of the pandemic.
With trials underway around the world to find medicines and a vaccine for COVID-19, WHO officials warned that large-scale testing would be needed with side-results carefully monitored.
"Although it is not impossible to discover a vaccine ... it will likely be a very difficult voyage," Tedros said.
Source: www.channelnewsasia.com
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