This archive report was first published on 2 July 2020.
As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded a dire warning: the situation is getting worse, not better.
According to the WHO, a staggering 60% of the world's 10 million coronavirus cases since December have been reported in the month of June alone.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that more than 160,000 new cases are reported every day.
He urged countries to adopt a comprehensive approach to battling the virus, which includes finding and isolating every case, tracing and quarantining every contact, equipping and training health workers, and educating and empowering communities to protect themselves and others.
“Find, isolate, test and care for every case; trace and quarantine every contact; equip and train health workers; and educate and empower communities to protect themselves and others,” Tedros said.
He also warned that countries taking a fragmented approach to the pandemic have a “long, hard road ahead,” and that a combination of measures is necessary to effectively combat the virus.
“Not testing alone. Not physical distancing alone. Not contact tracing alone. Not masks alone. Do it all,” Tedros said.
One of the key lessons learned in the past six months, Tedros noted, is that it's never too late to turn the situation around, regardless of the current circumstances.
He also highlighted the importance of wearing masks, which he said saves lives. In a surprising turn of events, U.S. President Donald Trump, who had previously downplayed the importance of masks, announced that he would now have “no problem” wearing one in public.
“If I were in a tight situation with people, I would, absolutely,” Trump told Fox Business news.
However, Trump also expressed doubts about making mask-wearing mandatory, and reiterated his belief that the virus would eventually “disappear” on its own.
But medical experts disagree, saying that the virus is likely to be a long-term presence, much like the common cold.
As the pandemic continues to spread, many countries are taking drastic measures to slow its spread. In the United States, for example, a new Reuters poll shows that Americans' anxieties about the coronavirus are at an all-time high, with 81% of respondents expressing concern about the virus.
Several U.S. states have set records for new cases, and governors have taken steps to slow the spread of the virus. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, for example, has put reopening bars and restaurants on pause, citing “knucklehead behavior” among the public.
California has also shut down bars, theaters, and indoor restaurant dining, while New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has put plans to reopen indoor dining rooms on hold due to concerns about infected individuals from elsewhere flocking into the city.
Meanwhile, other countries are taking a more cautious approach. In Canada, for example, the country's official birthday celebration, Canada Day, was held virtually for the first time, with entertainment, speeches, and fireworks all taking place online.
Elsewhere, the Czech Republic has reported relatively low numbers of cases and deaths, thanks to tough restrictions and lockdowns. And in Amsterdam, the city's famed red-light district has reopened, but with strict guidelines in place to prevent a coronavirus flare-up.
