WHO chief urges countries to invest in public health

GENEVA: The World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said the world should be better prepared for the next pandemic, urging the countries to invest in public health.

“No country can eradicate corona, in fact, the virus spreads easily, he said. This will not be the last pandemic,” Tedros Adhanom told a news briefing in Geneva on Monday.

The WHOcheif further said, “History teaches us that outbreaks and pandemics are a fact of life. However, when the next pandemic comes, the world community must be ready – more ready than it was this time,” he added.

He said that several studies have confirmed the effectiveness of corticosteroids in the treatment of severe cases of coronavirus pandemic.

The health body stated that researches confirmed the effectiveness of corticosteroids like dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, and methylprednisolone in treating coronavirus critically ill patients.

“These treatments lower the immune response reducing the risk of cytokines’ storm,” he said.

New cases of the novel COVID-19 that emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late December are being reported daily around the globe.

The number of coronavirus infection cases across the world has surged to 27,065,789 and the pandemic has so far claimed over 883,742 lives. So far, 19,165,962 have been cured in the world and at present, the number of active cases is 7,016,085.

The number of people infected with coronavirus in the United States has risen to more than 6,431,152, with 192,818 deaths.

Brazil is the second most affected country by the coronavirus, with more than 4,123,000 patients and 126,230 deaths.

India ranks third among the countries affected by the coronavirus, with more than 4,113,811 people affected and a total death toll of 70,679.

Russia is the fourth most affected country by the coronavirus, with more than 1,020,310 people infected and 17,759 deaths. In Peru, more than 683,702 people have been affected and 29,687 have lost their lives.