Simon Ateba is Chief White House Correspondent for Today News Africa covering President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, U.S. government, UN, IMF, World Bank and other financial and international institutions in Washington and New York.
One person died with COVID-19 every 44 seconds last week, even as the global decline in reported cases and deaths continued, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday, warning against complacency.
“The number of weekly reported deaths may have dropped by more than 80% since February, but even so, last week one person died with COVID-19 every 44 seconds,” WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a news conference from Geneva, Switzerland.
The WHO chief described as ‘encouraging’ the drop in cases and deaths, but warned that “here is no guarantee these trends will persist. The most dangerous thing is to assume they will.”
He said, “You might be tired of hearing me say the pandemic is not over. But I will keep saying it until it is. This virus will not just fade away. We understand that many governments are dealing with multiple challenges and competing priorities.
“To support them, WHO will next week publish a set of six short policy briefs, outlining the essential actions that all governments can take to reduce transmission and save lives.
“The briefs will cover the essential elements of testing, clinical management, vaccination, infection prevention and control, risk communication and community engagement, and managing the infodemic.
“We hope countries will use these briefs to reassess and readjust their policies to protect those most at risk, treat those who need it and save lives.
“The pandemic is always evolving, and so must the response, in every country.
Even as we continue to respond to the pandemic, work is progressing to put in place the measures to keep the world safer from future epidemics and pandemics.
“In November last year, WHO’s Member States made a historic decision to negotiate a new international accord on pandemic preparedness and response.
Just as countries have come together before to agree treaties on the threats posed by tobacco, nuclear weapons and climate change, so now countries are coming together to agree on a common approach to the common threat of epidemics and pandemics.
“The final outcome will be a legal instrument negotiated by sovereign states and implemented by sovereign states, in accordance with their own laws.
“But this is not a discussion for governments alone.
“Pandemics threaten every single person on earth, so it’s important that everyone can have their say on what this landmark international agreement looks like.
“To enable that to happen, WHO is holding public hearings, to give as many people as people as possible the opportunity to have input into the negotiating process.
“The first round of public hearings was in April, and the second round will be held later this month.
“We invite everyone, everywhere to have their say, by submitting a video statement between the 9th and 13th of September, responding to this question:
“Based on your experience with the COVID-19 pandemic, what do you believe should be addressed at the international level to better protect against future pandemics?”
“We look forward to receiving many suggestions and ideas, from as many countries as possible.”