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The World Health Organization has reported that the number of coronavirus cases worldwide has reached more than 66 million and 1.5 million deaths. In the last six weeks, the number of deaths has increased by approximately 60% per week and the majority of cases are concentrated in Europe and the Americas.
This occurred in the statements of the Director General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, during the press conference in Geneva, said that obtaining safe and effective vaccines against a virus that was not fully known just a year ago , it is an amazing scientific achievement. “But the biggest achievement will be ensuring that all countries enjoy the benefits of science equitably.”
This week, the launch of COVID-19 vaccines began in the UK, and other countries are expected to follow suit.
Dr. Michael Ryan, director of the WHO emergency program, highlighted the importance of combating misinformation and misinformation about vaccines. He said, “When new vaccines are introduced, there are always concerns and questions. There are always people passing on misleading or false information about vaccines. Community-level dialogue is required to address these concerns,” emphasizing the importance of coordinated responses and addressing concerns. of people providing knowledge and information. .
Three priorities for the organization
The WHO Director-General indicated that there are three priorities that the health agency focuses on at this stage:
An immediate funding gap of $ 4.3 billion to buy vaccines for the countries most in need.
Work to secure political commitment from world leaders for equitable access to vaccines and translate this commitment into action.
Prepare countries for access to vaccines by assessing infrastructure gaps.
According to Dr. Tedros, nearly 1 billion doses of three candidate vaccines have been obtained as part of the Kovacs Vaccine Access Facility, involving 189 countries and economies so far. The organization is also working with GAVI and UNICEF to evaluate the first batch of requests from eligible countries for assistance through the Kovacs facility.
However, the World Health Organization believes that addressing the funding gap is an urgent priority.
The importance of being careful during the holidays
Maria Van Kerkhove, head of the technical team on COVID-19 at the World Health Organization, called for practicing physical distancing, staying home if necessary, working from home, and following all established procedures to keep people safe, use mask, wash hands, and follow cough etiquette.
In response to questions from journalists, he said: “One of the lessons to be learned, especially from Europe, is that during the summer Europe controlled the disease, and the number of cases dropped a lot, and this can be done again. , but you have to be vigilant. “
As the holidays roll in, WHO recommends careful steps be taken on how to celebrate this year. Maria Van Kerkhove said: “We will celebrate, but that may mean celebrating only with immediate family or through video technology, but we must remain steadfast in our commitment and keep our distance from others at this stage … Cases are increasing rapidly and it is difficult to reduce them. “
For his part, Dr. Tedros said that a celebration can quickly turn into mourning if proper precautions are not taken. He said: “As you prepare for the celebration in the coming weeks, carefully consider your plans. If you live in an area with a high infection rate, take every precaution to maintain your safety and the safety of others.”
Study alterations
The Director General of the World Health Organization discussed the situation of children in the world, although they are at less risk of serious illness and death from Covid-19 compared to the elderly, but noted that millions of children suffer from the pandemic of other ways, including interruptions in education.
Dr. said. Tedros: “In some areas, children have been absent from school for nine months or more. Prolonged school closings pose an unprecedented challenge to the education, health and well-being of children.”
According to data compiled by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the classrooms of nearly 1 in 5 students worldwide, or 320 million students, have closed on December 1 , an increase of almost 90 million in one month. One.
A child’s temperature is monitored in Mongolia, after UNICEF provided temperature gauges in schools and kindergartens.
Today, the World Health Organization issued a new regulation to help schools reopen their doors and prepare for a new outbreak of Covid-19 and other diseases.
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