- Coronavirus pandemic accelerating with Americas worst, warns WHO.
- Brazil has the world’s worst outbreak outside the United States, with 978,142 confirmed cases and 47,748 deaths.
- Researchers have rallied in unprecedented ways to defeat the coronavirus pandemic.
- WHO officials warned that large-scale testing would be needed with side-effects carefully monitored.
According to WHO, the COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating with Thursday’s 150,000 new cases the highest in a single day and nearly half of them in the Americas, Reuters reported.
World in a dangerous phase!
“The world is in a new and dangerous phase,” director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual briefing from WHO headquarters in Geneva. “The virus is still spreading fast. It is still deadly, and most people are still susceptible.”
More than 8.53 million people had been reportedly infected by COVID-19 globally and 453,834 had died, a Reuters tally showed as of 1326 GMT June 19.
Tedros, whose leadership of the WHO has been severely criticised by US President Donald Trump, urged people to maintain social distancing and “extreme vigilance.” As well as the Americas, a large number of new cases was coming from South Asia and the Middle East, Tedros added.
A brave Brazil
WHO emergencies expert Mike Ryan drew attention to the situation in Brazil, where he said there had been 1,230 additional COVID-19 deaths in the previous 24 hours.
About 12% of infections in Brazil involved healthcare workers, he added, praising their bravery.
Brazil has the world’s worst outbreak outside the United States, with 978,142 confirmed cases and 47,748 deaths.
Drug trials underway
With many nations easing restrictions but fearful of a second wave of infections, Ryan urged a gradual and scientific approach.
“Exiting lockdowns must be done carefully, in a step-wise manner, and must be driven by the data,” he said. “If don’t know where it is the chances are the virus will surprise you.”
Ryan said the resurgence of new clusters did not necessarily mean a second wave, while “second peaks” were also possible in one wave. The emergencies expert praised Germany, China and South Korea for their handling 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-effects carefully monitored.
“Although it is not impossible to find a vaccine … it’s going to be a very difficult journey,” Tedros said.
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Source: Reuters
