(GENEVA) – The head of emergency at the World Health Organization said Monday that the agency’s “best estimates” imply that about 1 in 10 international people could have been inflamed with coronavirus, more than 20 times the number of cases shown, and warned of a complicated era ahead.
Dr Michael Ryan, speaking in a special whooF Executive Board consultation of 34 members on COVID-19, said the numbers vary from urban domain to urban domain and among other groups, but in the end means “the vast majority of the world remains at risk. “He said the pandemic will continue to evolve, but that there are equipment to suppress transmission and save lives.
“Many deaths have been prevented and many more lives can be protected,” said Ryan, who accompanied his boss, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who a few minutes earlier performed a minute’s silence in honor of the victims, as well as a round of applause for the fitness staff who tried to save them.
Ryan said Southeast Asia faces an increase in the number of cases, that Europe and the eastern Mediterranean are experiencing an increase, while conditions in Africa and the Western Pacific are “much more positive. “”course to difficult times. “
“The disease continues to spread. It is expanding in many parts of the world,” Ryan told government participants on the executive board and provided much of WHO funding. “Our most productive estimates tell us that about 10% of the world’s population would possibly have become inflamed with this virus. “
The estimate, estimated at more than 760 million others founded in an existing global population of around 7. 6 billion, exceeds the number of cases shown measured by WHO and Johns Hopkins University, now more than 35 million worldwide. the number of instances displayed is well below the actual figure.
Ryan gave no further details about the estimate. WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris said it was based on an average of antibody studies conducted around the world. According to her, the fact that 90% of others remain infection-free means that the virus has the “opportunity” to spread further “if we don’t take steps to prevent it,” for example by finding contacts and tracking instances through fitness officials.
Tedros, in his statements, said: “What we have learned in each and every region of the world is that with strong leadership, transparent and comprehensive strategies, constant communication and a committed, empowered and empowered population, it is never too late. All scenarios can be reversed and effortless gains can be lost without problems».
“The pandemic underscores the basic importance of making an investment in public fitness and physical attention number one,” said Tedros, dressed in a sublime black, red and yellow mask. Tedros had not worn a mask at dozens of press meetings on COVID-19. conducted at WHO headquarters this year.
These comments were made at a special Executive Board consultation to review the follow-up to its last May assembly, which followed a solution to examine, among other things, the reaction of the world – and WHO – to the pandemic.
The two-day assembly is the first executive council assembly since Trump’s leadership introduced a one-year countdown this summer to remove the United States from the WHO in July. President Donald Trump, who has been inflamed by COVID -19, has accused the WHO of accepting too much China’s explanations about its handling of the outbreak in Wuhan that expired last year.
In a much more conciliatory tone, Undersecretary of Health Brett Giroir, the U. S. representative to the Board of Directors, said at the assembly through a video convention that the United States “looks forward to running in combination to defeat this pandemic and bring our other people and the economy back to normal. “
Giroir also suggested to the WHO, albeit kindly, that it explain its relations with the Chinese government. He said a “key mandate” of the May solution was his call for a joint project involving WHO, the World Organization for Animal Health and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. the United Nations to read about the animal origins of the virus and its trans-project to humans.
A complex team of two people for this project has visited China, but a more complete project is not ready. Giroir said it is “essential” for WHO member states to obtain regular and timely updates on the project and its “mandate”, a reference to implementing rules detailing how much access project members will have in China.
Chinese board member Zhang Yang, in a video conference, said China had been “transparent and accountable” and was doing its day-to-day work under resolution. He said he was communicating with WHO and maintaining his monetary commitments to the UN agency.
Clemens Auer, a member of the Austrian board, deplored a WHO “political weakening,” posing the “potential withdrawal of a strong WHO member state,” a reference to the United States. He asked for a “retirement session” for members of an “active” “framework — not a “ceremonial. “Representative Giroir expressed support for the idea.