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Even though more than 780 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have now been administered globally, the pandemic is “a long way from over” but it can be brought under control in months with proven public health measures, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said.
The coronavirus, which emerged first in central China’s Wuhan city in December 2019, has infected more than 136,500,400 people and killed over 2,944,500 people across the world.
“In January and February, the world saw six consecutive weeks of declining cases. We have now seen seven consecutive weeks of increasing cases, and four weeks of increasing deaths. Last week was the fourth-highest number of cases in a single week so far. Several countries in Asia and the Middle East have seen large increases in cases,” WHO Director-General Ghebreyesus said in a report by PTI .
Speaking to reporters in Geneva, he said while more than 780 million doses of vaccine have now been administered globally, vaccines are a powerful tool but not the only tool.
“Physical distancing works. Masks work. Hand hygiene works. Ventilation works. Surveillance, testing, contact tracing, isolation, supportive quarantine and compassionate care – they all work to stop infections and save lives,” he added.
