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The top officials of the World Health Organization (WHO) insisted today on the importance of governments breaking the chains of transmission of covid-19 and said they are concerned about the increase in cases in Europe and North America.
“As the northern hemisphere enters winter, we are seeing an acceleration in cases, particularly in Europe and North America,” the organization’s director general told an online press conference from Geneva.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus pointed out that as the number of cases increases, the number of people who need hospital beds and intensive care increases, which translates into a “very difficult and dangerous situation, both for patients and for healthcare professionals. health”. .
That is why, he added, it is important that governments focus on what is essential to save lives, find cases, investigate the group, isolate all cases, quarantine contacts, ensure good clinical care and support and protect workers. health and the most vulnerable people.
“I know there is fatigue, but the virus has shown that when we let our guard down, it can return at breakneck speed and threaten hospitals and health systems,” he warned.
Michael Ryan, director of the WHO health emergencies program, and Maria Van Kerkhove, in charge of combating the epidemic, also stressed the need to isolate people infected with the disease as well as their contacts, to break the chains of transmission . .
“Without isolating and maintaining quarantine” it is not possible to combat the virus, said the expert, highlighting that the spread of covid-19 is sometimes very intense in certain places in each country, and that “strategies and interventions where they are most needed” necessary”.
And Michael Ryan, recalling that in Europe there was a 50% increase in covid-19 cases, which in some countries reached two thirds, with an increase in hospitalizations and deaths, also highlighted the need to break chains by isolating people. infected, but also their contacts.
“It is not a prison, it is breaking the chain of transmission,” he said, reaffirming that no matter how difficult each contact is in a positive covid-19 case, it must be quarantined.
At the press conference, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also announced that 194 countries have already joined the initiative led by the WHO for universal access to possible vaccines (COVAX).
He also announced the start of a campaign called “We are family”, to promote solidarity and global collaboration in the fight against covid-19.
The campaign is based on music from the 70s and will be produced by Kim Sledge, of the group of sisters that released the 1979 hit song “Sister Sledge”, and by the international social organization “World We Want”. Kim Sledge and Natasha Mudhar, founder of the organization, attended the press conference.
The initiative encourages people to record videos singing the song, which can then be part of a global video and which will be a kind of anthem in the fight against the pandemic.
“We Are Family” is “a global anthem that appeals to what the world needs most at this time: solidarity, unity and collaboration. Working together, as a global family, for the future, ”said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Kim Sledge will sing “We Are Family” at the opening of the 73rd World Health Assembly on 9 November.
The covid-19 pandemic has already claimed more than 1.1 million deaths and more than 40 million cases of infection worldwide, according to a report by the French agency AFP.
In Portugal 2,198 people died for 101,860 confirmed cases of infection, according to the most recent bulletin of the General Health Directorate.
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