Media briefing on #COVID19 with @DrTedros https://t.co/FvolgDSVhM
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) August 31, 2020
The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said last week that “no country can just pretend” the Covid19 pandemic has ended.
The comments seem to be aimed at countries that have begun easing back lockdown restrictions – like the U.S. – and to be positioning the WHO as the de facto authority as to when the pandemic can officially be declared over, even in individual, sovereign countries.
“At the same time, no country can just pretend the #COVID19 pandemic is over.
The reality is that this coronavirus spreads easily, it can be fatal to people of all ages & most people remain susceptible.”-@DrTedros— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) August 31, 2020
“The more control countries have over the virus, the more they can open up. Opening up without having control is a recipe for disaster. It’s not one size fits all, it’s not all or nothing,” Tedros said.
“If countries are serious about opening up, they must be serious about suppressing transmission and saving lives,” he added. “This may seem like an impossible balance, but it’s not. It can be done and it has been done.”
“At the same time, no country can just pretend the #COVID19 pandemic is over.
The reality is that this coronavirus spreads easily, it can be fatal to people of all ages & most people remain susceptible.”-@DrTedros— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) August 31, 2020
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) quietly updated their statistics last month on Covid19 fatalities in the U.S. The new statistics show that only 6% of all Coronavirus deaths were due to Covid19 alone. 94% of patients who succumbed to the virus had an underlying condition, and many had more than one.