This archive report was first published on 11 July 2020.
On July 10, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported a significant increase in COVID-19 cases worldwide, with the total number of cases doubling over the past six weeks.
At a regular briefing from WHO headquarters in Geneva, WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the need for aggressive action and global solidarity to turn the pandemic around.
According to Dr. Tedros, leadership, community participation, and collective solidarity are crucial in controlling the spread of the virus. He cited examples from around the world, including Italy, Spain, South Korea, and Dharavi in Mumbai, where the virus was brought under control despite intense outbreaks.
Dr. Tedros stressed the importance of community engagement and the basics of testing, tracing, isolating, and treating those who are sick in breaking the chains of transmission and suppressing the virus.
He also noted that COVID-19 restrictions have disrupted supply chains that provide routine immunizations for the world's poorest nations, potentially leading to surges in diseases like measles, polio, and malaria.
Dr. Tedros assured that the WHO continues to work with partners to prioritize the poorest and most marginalized people of the world.
