End of COVID-19 pandemic is ‘in sight’: WHO

Agencies | Geneva                                                                         

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The world has never been in a better position to end the COVID-19 pandemic, the head of the World Health Organization said yesterday, his most optimistic outlook yet on the years-long health crisis which has killed over six million people.

“We are not there yet. But the end is in sight,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters at a virtual press conference. That was the most upbeat assessment from the UN agency since it declared an international emergency in January 2020 and started describing COVID-19 as a pandemic three months later.

The virus, which emerged in China in late 2019, has killed nearly 6.5 million people and infected 606 million, roiling global economies and overwhelming healthcare systems. The rollout of vaccines and therapies have helped to stem deaths and hospitalisations, and the Omicron variant which emerged late last year causes less severe disease.

Deaths from COVID-19 last week were the lowest since March 2020, the UN agency reported. Still yesterday, he again urged nations to maintain their vigilance and likened the pandemic to a marathon race.

“Now is the time to run harder and make sure we cross the line and reap the rewards of all our hard work.”