WHO sees confusion and contradictions in approach to corona: “People are dying”

The World Health Organisation (WHO) sees confusion, contradictions, and complacency in its approach to the coronavirus. As a result, the pandemic is far from over, says WHO boss Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

He points to packed restaurants and clubs and crowded markets where almost nobody takes precautions, and that in countries where there are still infections.

But Tedros nevertheless sees “many reasons” for optimism. The drop in the number of infections and coronas deaths in the first two months of this year shows that the virus and its variants can be stopped, he says. The corona outbreak can be brought under control within months with proven health measures.

Around 780 million corona vaccines have now been administered worldwide. But other measures, including wearing face masks and keeping a distance, are also still needed to turn the tide, Tedros stresses.

“We too want societies and economies to reopen and travel and trade to resume,” Tedros said at a press conference. “But right now, intensive care units in many countries are overcrowded, and people are dying. And it is totally avoidable.”