World Health Organization chief
Tedros said that there were “worrying upward trends” in early epidemics in parts of Africa and central and South America, while also warning that “the coronavirus will be with us for a long time”.
“Most countries are still in the early stages of their epidemics and some that were affected early in the pandemic are starting to see a resurgence in cases,” he told Geneva journalists in a virtual briefing.
More than 2.5 million people around the world have been diagnosed with the coronavirus. At least 178,000 have died, with the US accounting for about a quarter of all deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
“Make no mistake, we have a long way to go. This virus will be with us for a long time,” he added, while noting progress in Western Europe.
Ryan, the WHO’s top emergencies expert, warned against opening up global travel too quickly, saying it would require “careful risk management”.
