Move FM Australian News

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has publicly noted the need to balance health and economic aspects in dealing with the coronavirus disease Covid-19.

He has also acknowledged that lockdowns are not a long term solution in the fight against the virus.

“Globally, there are now more than 22 million reported cases of COVID-19, and 780,000 deaths,” Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO secretary-general said Friday.

“But it’s not just the numbers of cases and deaths that matter. In many countries, the number of patients who need hospitalization and advanced care remains high, putting huge pressure on health systems and affecting the provision of services for other health needs.”

Of major recent concern are fresh outbreaks, or spikes in many countries where it was deemed the virus had been brought under control, or had at least improved significantly to prompt opening upo economies, or at the very least, the relaxation of restrictions.

Places like Melbourne and Sydney in Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Israel and the UAE have seen renewed surges when it was believed there had been a turn of the corner.

“Several countries around the world are now experiencing fresh outbreaks after a long period with little or no transmission,” Dr Tedros said.

“These countries are a cautionary tale for those that are now seeing a downward trend in cases.”

“Progress does not mean victory,” said the Who secretary-general.

“The fact remains that most people remain susceptible to this virus.”

“That’s why it’s vital that countries are able to quickly identify and prevent clusters, to prevent community transmission and the possibility of new restrictions,” said Tedros.

“No country can just ride this out until we have a vaccine.”

“A vaccine will be a vital tool, and we hope that we will have one as soon as possible,” the WHO chief said.

“But there’s no guarantee that we will, and even if we do have a vaccine, it won’t end the pandemic on its own.”

“We must all learn to control and manage this virus using the tools we have now, and to make the adjustments to our daily lives that are needed to keep ourselves and each other safe,” Tedros said.

“So-called lockdowns enabled many countries to suppress transmission and take the pressure off their health systems.”

“But lockdowns are not a long-term solution for any country,” the WHO chief said.

“We do not need to choose between lives and livelihoods, or between health and the economy. That’s a false choice. On the contrary, the pandemic is a reminder that health and the economy are inseparable.”

“WHO is committed to working with all countries to move into a new stage of opening their economies, societies, schools and businesses safely,” said Tedros.

“To do that, every single person must be involved. Every single person can make a difference. Every person, family, community and nation must make their own decisions, based on the level of risk where they live. That means every person and family has a responsibility to know the level of transmission locally, and to understand what they can do to protect themselves and others.”

“At the same time, we will not we cannot go back to the way things were,” the UN secretary-general said.

“Throughout history, outbreaks and pandemics have changed economies and societies. This one will be no different.”

Dr Tedros was elected as the ehad of WHO for a five-year term by WHO member states at the Seventieth World Health Assembly in May 2017.

He is the first WHO director-general to have been elected from multiple candidates by the World Health Assembly, and is the first person from the WHO African Region to serve as WHO’s chief technical and administrative officer.