The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has stressed again the need for unity on the world stage to combat the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
He says if the world is not united the virus will "exploit the gaps between us and create havoc. Lives will be lost." The WHO chief has also highlighted the important need at this time for political leadership.
"I have said since the beginning that the most important resource in the fight against COVID-19 is solidarity. Solidarity, solidarity, solidarity," WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press briefing on Monday.
"As lockdowns in Europe ease with declining numbers of new cases, we continue to urge countries to find, isolate, test and treat all cases of COVID-19 and trace every contact, to ensure these declining trends continue."
"But the pandemic is far from over. WHO continues to be concerned about the increasing trends in Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America and some Asian countries," Dr Tedros told reporters.
"As in all regions, cases and deaths are underreported in many countries in these regions because of low testing capacity."
"We are continuing to support these countries with technical assistance through our regional and country offices, and with supplies through Solidarity Flights," the WHO chief said.
"In the past week, we have delivered supplies to more than 40 countries in Africa, and more are planned."
"Globally, WHO has shipped millions of items of personal protective equipment to 105 countries, and lab supplies to more than 127 countries. We will ship many millions more in the weeks ahead, and we're preparing aggressively," Dr Tedros said.
"Later this week WHO will launch its second Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan, with an estimate of the resources needed for the next stage of the global response."
"I would like to thank China, Portugal and Vietnam for their recent contributions to WHO's Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan," the WHO chief said.
"We're also grateful to the more than 280,000 individuals, corporations and foundations who have contributed to the Solidarity Response Fund, which has now generated more than $200 million. And I thank FluLab especially for its contribution of $10 million."
"We have a long road ahead of us, and a lot of work to do. WHO is committed to doing everything we can to support all countries," said Tedros.
"But political leadership is also essential, including the vital role of parliaments. As a former parliamentarian, I fully recognize the big role that parliaments can play," he said.
"I continue to call for the world to come together in solidarity and national unity to confront this pandemic, but also to prevent the next one, and to build a healthier, safer, fairer world for everyone, everywhere."
"If we're not united the virus will exploit the gaps between us and create havoc. Lives will be lost," Dr Tedros said.
"We can only defeat this virus through unity at the national level and solidarity at the global level."
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