Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) has shared his concern about the world being at a critical juncture in the COVID-19 pandemic with few nations treading on a dangerous path, staring at a prospect of health services collapsing under the immense strain of the third wave of infections.
Speaking to the media, the WHO head remarked that “We are at a critical juncture in the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the Northern hemisphere,” adding “The next few months are going to be very tough and some countries are on a dangerous track.”
Sounding alarmed at the lack of action from nations across the globe, Dr. Ghebreyesus stated that “We urge leaders to take immediate action, to prevent further unnecessary deaths, essential health services from collapsing and schools shutting again. As I said it in February and I’m repeating it today: This is not a drill.”
Referring to the unrelenting winter season on approach, the WHO official observed that too many countries were now seeing an exponential increase in infections, “and that is now leading to hospitals and intensive care units running close or above capacity; and we’re still only in October”.
Dr. Ghebreyesus urged countries to take immediate action to limit the spread of the virus promptly. He commented that improving testing, isolation of those at risk of spreading the virus and tracing of contacts of those infected would enable countries to avoid mandatory lockdowns.
