World Health Organization’s Emergency Committee released an update on the coronavirus disease on April 13, 2022. This followed their eleventh meeting since the infectious health emergency began. The major WHO statement regarding COVID status concludes the epidemic is by no means over. Vaccinations remain the most powerful weapon.
Major Points in WHO Statement On COVID Crisis
1… The Director General opened by remarking ‘the world has tools to limit transmission, save lives, protect health systems’. Moreover, there is hope with reported deaths at their lowest level in two years.
2… However, the SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to behave unpredictably. National responses are generally proving insufficient in terms of ‘available medical countermeasures, and public health and social measures’.
3… The committee discussed a number of key issues including variants, equitable access to antivirals, and vaccine protection. Then it considered hybrid immunity, potential future scenarios for transmission, and concurrent health emergencies.
4… The major WHO statement regarding COVID observes ‘SARS-CoV-2 continues to have unpredictable viral evolution. This is compounded by its wide-spread circulation, and intense transmission in humans. As well as widespread introduction of infection to a range of animal species, with potential for establishing animal reservoirs.
5… Inappropriate antiviral use ‘may lead to the emergence of drug-resistant variants’ the statement continues. Some administrations ‘have relaxed public measures and reduced testing, impacting thus the global ability to monitor evolution of the virus’. International travel remains a concern.
Emergency Committee Recommendations Going Forward
The Emergency Committee believes public health safety measures must continue, particularly to protect vulnerable populations. Administrations must also adjust these as situations change.
The pandemic ‘still constitutes an extraordinary event continually adversely affecting the health of populations around the world,’ it adds. ‘It poses an ongoing risk of international spread, and interference with international traffic. It therefore requires a coordinated international response.’
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