...the twenty first century equivalent of bubonic plague, only instead of killing off a third of the population of Europe it kills 3.4 percent of those who notice they have it. It seems to be fond of the elderly, especially Iranian politicians and holy men...pandemic.
Thank goodness we’ve given up our membership, and so needn’t listen to their diktats anymore.
In light of a daily record of 230,000 new cases of COVID-19 were reported to the WHO on Sunday, the UN health agency says that the pandemic is only going to get worse, unless people stick to the basics of physical distancing, handwashing, and wearing masks.WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warns that countries that have been easing their way out of lockdowns are now witnessing a resurgence of the virus because they were not following proven methods to reduce risk.
"I want to be straight with you: there will be no return to the ’old normal’ for the foreseeable future," Tedros tells a virtual news briefing.
"Let me blunt: too many countries are headed in the wrong direction."
"The virus remains public enemy number one, but the actions of many governments and people do not reflect this."
He says mixed messages from leaders have been undermining trust.
If governments do not roll out a comprehensive strategy to suppress transmission of the virus, and if populations do not follow basic public health principles, "there is only one way this pandemic is going to go," he says.
"It’s going to get worse and worse and worse."
The novel coronavirus has killed nearly 570,000 people and infected more than 12.9 million since the outbreak emerged in China last December, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP.
"Although the number of daily deaths remains relatively stable, there is a lot to be concerned about," says Tedros.
He says there were four scenarios playing out around the world.
They are: countries that were alert and avoided large outbreaks, those that got a major outbreak under control, those that eased restrictions and are now backsliding, and those that are in an intense transmission phase.
Tedros says the epicenter of the virus remains the Americas.
It’s a group project —and grateful we are not to be carrying the load alone any longer.
| An Eastern European friend notes that the Americas do not use the BCG vaccine at birth... |
| We only give it to those few who are at risk of being exposed to the disease. Tuberculosis is not endemic here — as I understand it, TB exposure in the US is pretty much limited to those with HIV/AIDS, needle drug users, and illegal immigrants from Third World countries. |