6 months on. The New Normal is Live With COVID-10, says WHO DG
GENEVA, June 30, 2010: As today marks six months since WHO received the first reports of a cluster of cases of pneumonia of unknown cause in China, critical question that all countries will face in the coming months is how to live with this virus. That is the new normal, said WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in his virtual global media meet
Many countries have implemented unprecedented measures to suppress transmission and save lives. These measures have been successful in slowing the spread of the virus. But they have not completely stopped it, Dr Tedors said.
Pointing out that some countries are now experiencing a resurgence of cases as they start to re-open their economies and societies, he said most people remain susceptible. “The virus still has a lot of room to move. We all want this to be over. We all want to get on with our lives,” he said.
The six-month anniversary of the outbreak coincides with reaching 10 million cases and 500,000 deaths.
Although a vaccine will be an important long-term tool for controlling COVID-19, there are five priorities that every single country must focus on now, to save lives now.