The World Health Organization says the COVID-19 pandemic could be ended within two years, but has warned that no country can simply drive it out until there is a vaccine.
The organization’s director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said it took two years to end the 1918 flu pandemic, and technology today will help end the current pandemic more quickly, even though globalization brings connectivity that brings viruses spreads.
“That we hope to end this pandemic in less than two years, especially if we can make efforts and with national unity and global solidarity,” he told a virtual news conference he hosted in Geneva on Friday.
In comments for opening, Tedros said no country can ride the pandemic until there is a vaccine. A vaccine will be essential in combating the pandemic, he said.
“But there is no guarantee that we will (soon find a vaccine), and even if we do … it will not end the pandemic on its own. We must all learn to control and manage this virus with the tools we have now, and to make the adjustments to our daily lives that are necessary to keep ourselves and each other safe. “
New milestone
The world reached a milestone on Saturday of 800,000 COVID-19 deaths and close to 23 million confirmed cases, according to a statement held by Johns Hopkins University.
In the United States, the country with the most infections, health officials said there could be 10 times more cases than the more than 5.6 million confirmed. The US has claimed more than 175,000 lives through the virus, including more than any other country.
India on Saturday reported a record jump of infections, bringing the total to close to 3 million and putting pressure on authorities to curb huge gatherings when a major religious festival began.
The 69,878 new infections, the fourth straight day above 60,000, took the total cases of India to 2.98 million, behind only the US and Brazil. COVID-19 deaths increased by 945 to 55,794, the federal Department of Health said.
South Korea added 397 new cases to its coronavirus caseload in a 10-day three-digit increase, as the rate of viral spread narrow levels was last seen at the worst of the outbreak in the spring.
The resurgence, which began in densely populated Seoul before spreading to virtually every major city and provincial city last week, is a major blow to the country, which was desperate to support its heavy gains against the virus.
In Italy, the Ministry of Health on Saturday reported 1,071 new coronavirus infections in the previous 24 hours, more than 1,000 cases a day for the first time since May, when the government demanded rigid lockdown measures.
Speaking about ways to contain the virus, Tedros said the lockdowns enabled many countries to suppress transmission and reduce the pressure on their health systems, but noted that lockdowns are not a long-term solution everywhere.
“We do not have to choose between life and subsistence, or between health and the economy. That is a wrong choice. On the contrary, the pandemic is a reminder that health and the economy are inseparable.”
WHO is committed to working with all countries to move to a new stage to open up their economies, societies, schools and businesses safely, he said.
Every individual should be involved, he said.
“Every person can make a difference. Every person, family, community and nation has to make their own decisions, based on the level of risk in which they live. We will not — we cannot go back to the way things were.”
Agencies contributed to this story.
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