WHO soon to make a visit to China investigate the origination of the novel Coronavirus
A World Health Organisation (WHO) team will finally visit China next week in a bid to investigate the source of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, reported India.com.
The announcement to this effect was made on June 29 by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who remarked that the world can better fight the virus ‘when we know all about the virus, including how it began.’
“WHO has been saying that knowing the source of the virus is very, very important. It’s matter of science, public health and the a concern across all countries. We can fight the virus better when we know everything about the virus, including how it started,” he had said in a media briefing on June 29.
“We will be sending a team next week to China to prepare for that and we hope that that will lead into understanding how the virus started and what we can do for the future to prepare. So we’re planning to send a team next week,” he had further remarked, media reports.
Particularly, in some quarters it has been alleged that the virus originated from a Chinese laboratory. US President Donald Trump and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have also publicly confirmed that the virus likely originated in China.
However, with no evidence being presented to back the speculations, China has denied the allegations.
Till date, it has now been more than six months since the WHO first received reports of a cluster of cases of pneumonia of unknown cause in China. A novel Coronavirus, now known as COVID-19, was found to be the cause of the disease.
Thus far, over 11 million people worldwide have tested positive for the infection, with over 5.25 lakh people losing their lives due to it, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
Meanwhile it is also said that, the easing of curbs won’t stop the virus. Stopping the virus needs concerted and continued effort from the government and the community, the WHO Chief stated.
In the midst of a raging debate on the role of the World Health Organization in stemming the outbreak of a global pandemic, World Health Organization Chief Director said that lifting restrictions does not mean an end to the virus. “Don’t make a mistake: we have a long way to go. This virus is going to be with us for a long time, “he said.