‘We’re still in the tunnel’
The head of the World Health Organization on Thursday tempered his assertion that the end of the Covid-19 pandemic was near, warning that declaring the crisis over was "still a long way off".
Last week, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters that the world had "never been in a better position to end the pandemic... The end is in sight."
But speaking to the media again Thursday from the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Tedros appeared less upbeat, making clear that "being able to see the end, doesn't mean we are at the end."
He stressed, "it is still a long way off, and the tunnel is still dark, with many obstacles that could trip us up if we don't take care."
"We're still in the tunnel."
In its latest epidemiological update, the WHO said over 9,800 fatalities were reported last week, down 17 percent from a week earlier, while 3.2 million new cases were reported.
Tedros pointed out that two-thirds of the world's population has been vaccinated, including three-quarters of health workers and older people.
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