World still losing 5000 people daily from coronavirus and things would likely get worse, WHO experts warn

The world is still losing 5000 people daily from the novel coronavirus, and things may get even worse, as the northern hemisphere goes into the cold season, two experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Wednesday.

COVID-19 remains deadly, killing at least two out 100 people who catch it, warned Dr Mike Ryan, Executive Director, WHO Health Emergencies Program, and Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO Technical Lead on COVID-19.

More than 28 million infections have been confirmed around the world and over 900 thousand people have died worldwide.

The worst health emergency in more than 100 years, which is still accelerating dangerously in many parts of the world, has brought the planet to a standstill, crashed the global economy and disrupted social interactions.

However, the worst may be yet to come, the experts said, at a time when many people are getting tired of social distancing, respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene measures.

“We have the chance to succeed and we have the chance to fail,” Dr Mike Ryan said.

The experts said it would be possible to be infected with both influenza and coronavirus at the same time, but it was unlikely both viruses would merge to form a deadlier virus.

However nothing is definitive because there are still many unknowns about the coronavirus, they said.

The experts said things were still a bit stable in Africa despite the lack of adequate level of testing, but vigilance should remain the key word.

Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO COVID-19 technical lead, said people should be involved, get creative and be part of the solution.

“We are in this together,” she said.