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Despite the slowdown in the spread of Covid-19 in some countries due to lockdowns and vaccination programs, it is “premature” and “unrealistic” to think that the pandemic will be over by the end of the year, said said the executive director of the World Health Organization of the emergency services said.
Speaking at a press briefing in Geneva, Dr Michael Ryan said while immunizing the most vulnerable people, including healthcare workers, would help to remove “tragedy and fear” from the situation. and would help ease the pressure on hospitals, the ‘virus is very important. in control “.
“It will be very premature, and I think unrealistic, to think that we are going to be done with this virus by the end of the year,” Ryan said.
“If vaccines start to impact not only death and not just hospitalization, but have a significant impact on the dynamics of transmission and the risk of transmission, then I think we will step up the fight against this pandemic. “
The number of new global infections increased last week for the first time in nearly two months. Reported cases have increased in four of WHO’s six regions: the Americas, Europe, Southeast Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean.
“It’s disappointing, but not surprising,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“We are working to better understand these increases in transmission. Part of this appears to be due to the relaxation of public health measures, the continued flow of variants, and people letting their guard down. “
He said that while vaccines would save lives, “if countries rely solely on vaccines, they are making a mistake.”
“Basic public health measures remain the foundation of the response,” he said.
Tedros also highlighted the inequality in access to vaccines. He welcomed the first doses of the Covid-19 vaccine administered in Africa on Monday, in Côte d’Ivoire and in Ghana. But he added that “it is unfortunate that this comes almost three months after some of the wealthier countries have started their vaccination campaigns.”
“And it is unfortunate that some countries continue to prioritize immunization of younger, healthier, lower risk adults in their own populations, ahead of health workers and older people elsewhere,” he said. -he declares.
“Countries are not in a race with each other, it is a common race against the virus.
We are not asking countries to put their own citizens at risk. We call on all countries to be part of a global effort to eradicate the virus everywhere.
“We are also concerned about the reported arrests of health workers in Myanmar, which could affect the response to Covid-19 and the provision of other essential health services. And in Ethiopia, the ongoing conflict in the Tigray region has wrecked many health facilities and hospitals. We are deeply concerned about the risk of disease due to the lack of food, clean water, shelter and access to health care. “
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