WHO Expert: Second Year of Coronavirus Pandemic Could Be More Severe
The World Health Organization warned about the widespread outbreak of mutated strains of coronavirus. Experts at this international body are concerned that the second year of the coronavirus pandemic could be more difficult than the first year.
Due to the outbreak of mutated coronavirus strains that are noticeably more contagious than the previous version of the virus, the World Health Organization moved up its emergency committee meeting by two weeks. Members of this committee are meeting today, Thursday, December 25 (January 14) in Geneva to discuss the new pandemic situation.
Two mutated coronavirus strains have been observed in recent weeks in Britain and South Africa, with transmission rates significantly higher than the previous strain. Mutated viruses have spread to about 50 countries worldwide.
Japan also announced last Sunday the discovery of another mutated virus strain that apparently originated from the Amazon region in Brazil. This new type of coronavirus is currently under review and testing.
The Deputy Director-General of the World Health Organization stated that despite the production of the first vaccines, there is still a long way to go to overcome the coronavirus pandemic. Mike Ryan emphasized, “Given the various aspects of the virus outbreak, the second year of the pandemic could be more difficult than the first year.”
This virologist at the World Health Organization coordinates the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, which is specifically concentrated in the Northern Hemisphere, as the mutated and more contagious strain of the virus has been more prevalent in this region so far.
Maria Van Kerkhove, another virologist at the World Health Organization, referring to the recent Christmas and New Year holidays, said that after these holidays, the situation in some countries has become worse instead of better.
WHO Experts Enter Wuhan
After several days of delay, the World Health Organization’s mission to investigate the origins of the coronavirus in China has finally begun. A 10-member team of experts from this international body entered the city of Wuhan on Thursday, December 25 (January 14); the place where the first cases of coronavirus were observed in 2019.
These investigations were supposed to begin last week, but a delay in issuing a permit from the Chinese government postponed it.
WHO experts must remain in quarantine for two weeks due to strict regulations of the Chinese government.
Source: DW
