The director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated that, despite the progress that has been made in recent weeks in the development of a vaccine against Covid-19, the truth is that ” There is no silver bullet right now, “and he added,” Maybe there never will be. ”
However, “it is never too late to turn the situation around,” he agreed at the press conference held in Geneva, where he has appealed to the basic principles of public health and disease control to stop outbreaks.
” Test, isolate and treat patients, and track and quarantine their contacts. Inform, empower, and listen to communities. For people, it’s about keeping physical distance, wearing a mask, regularly cleaning your hands, and coughing safely away from others. The message to people and governments is clear: do it all. And when it’s under control, keep going! “Recommended the WHO director.
Over the past week, the WHO has seen countries that seemed to have overcome the worst, “are now struggling with new spikes in cases,” he warned. However, “it has also been seen how some countries, regions or localities that had a large number of cases are now controlling the outbreak. ” ”It is not easy, of course. Strict measures can cause their own problems for the delivery of essential health services, the economy, and societies in general. The Committee recognized that the Member States have to make difficult decisions to change the epidemic. ”
But, Tedros added, “They also made it clear that when leaders step forward and work intensively with their populations, this disease can be controlled. “” “We learn about this virus every day and I am pleased that the world has made progress in identifying treatments that can help people with the most severe forms of COVID-19 recover,” he said.
The WHO Committee has recommended that countries participate in the COVID-19 Tool Access Accelerator (ACT), also participate in relevant clinical trials and prepare for the therapeutic and safe introduction of vaccines. A series of vaccines are now in phase three clinical trials, and the organization hopes to have a number of effective vaccines that can help prevent infection in people.
Likewise, he reiterated the importance of continuing to strengthen the health system; continue to improve surveillance, follow-up of contacts and that interrupted health services are restarted as quickly as possible; and keep safeguards and monitoring in place, “because lifting restrictions too quickly can lead to a resurgence.”
