“Very premature and unrealistic” - WHO is clouding hope that the corona pandemic will end soon

The hope that the corona pandemic would end soon was high with the approval of the first corona vaccines.

A WHO expert has now clearly dampened these hopes.

Geneva - The corona pandemic has been influencing people's daily lives around the world for around a year.

The spread of the corona mutations is currently causing great concern, many experts are warning of a third wave.

On Wednesday (March 3rd) there is another corona summit of the federal and state governments in Germany.

According to initial reports, Chancellor Angela Merkel apparently wants to extend the lockdown * until the beginning of the Easter holidays.

An end to the pandemic is not in sight.

Corona pandemic over at the end of the year?

WHO expert calls this "very premature and unrealistic"

The World Health Organization (WHO) takes a similar view.

"It would be very premature and unrealistic to believe that we will be able to deal with this virus by the end of the year," said WHO emergency aid coordinator Michael Ryan on Monday evening in Geneva, dampening hopes of an early end to the corona pandemic *.

However, if acted wisely, "the hospital admissions, deaths and tragedy that come with this pandemic could end".

The WHO continues to focus on keeping the number of infections as low as possible and vaccinating as many people as possible against the coronavirus *.

Compared to ten weeks ago, the situation is much better, said Ryan with a view to delivering the first corona vaccines.

“We are still facing a major challenge,” he emphasized.

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WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (r.) And WHO emergency aid coordinator Michael Ryan consider an end to the corona pandemic in 2021 to be unrealistic.

(Archive image)

© Salvatore Di Nolfi / dpa

Corona pandemic: WHO chief explains increase in numbers - "Disappointing, but not surprising"

Last week, the WHO Regional Director for Europe, Hans Henri Kluge, had given hope that the corona pandemic would end soon.

In an interview with the Danish TV broadcaster

DR he

said: “The worst is behind us.” Kluge looked confidently to the future: “There will still be a virus, but I don't think that restrictions will be necessary.

That is an optimistic statement. "

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Monday that after six weeks with a downward trend there was now an increase in the corona numbers.

Apart from Africa and the region in the western Pacific, an upward trend can be observed everywhere.

"This is disappointing, but not surprising," said the WHO Director General.

Corona vaccination started in poorer countries: WHO chief calls time "regrettable"

He sees the easing in many countries, the spread of the more contagious virus variants * "and that people are becoming less cautious" as possible causes.

At the press conference on Monday, the WHO chief again warned the international community not to rely exclusively on corona vaccinations *.

Compliance with the basic hygiene rules continues to be the basis in the fight against the corona pandemic *.

On the other hand, it is gratifying that the vaccination of medical personnel has finally started in poorer countries, for example in Ghana and the Ivory Coast.

By the end of May, the WHO expects that 237 million doses of vaccine will be available for distribution in 142 poorer countries.

Tedros added, however: "It is regrettable that this is happening almost three months after the start of vaccination in some particularly rich countries."

(Ph / dpa) * Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA

List of rubric lists: © Salvatore Di Nolfi