WHO chief urges unity amidst disease and conflict

At the World Health Organization’s annual assembly in Geneva, WHO chief warned that the coronavirus pandemic was not over yet.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General said "This virus has surprised us at every turn. A storm that has torn through communities again and again. And we still can't predict its pulse or its intensity. We lower our guard at our peril. Increasing transmission means more disease, especially among unvaccinated and more risk of a new variant emerging. Declining testing and sequencing means we're blinding ourselves to the evolution of the virus. And almost one billion people in lower income countries remain unvaccinated."

The WHO chief also appealed on the world community to "choose peace for health, health for peace". Tedros is expected to be appointed for a second five-year term this week at the World Health Assembly.