Global COVID-19 death toll could hit 2 million before vaccine in wide use - WHO

[rooster59]

Global COVID-19 death toll could hit 2 million before vaccine in wide use - WHO

 

FILE PHOTO: A logo is pictured on the headquarters of the World Health Orgnaization (WHO) ahead of a meeting of the Emergency Committee on the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Geneva, Switzerland, January 30, 2020. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo

 

GENEVA/ZURICH (Reuters) - The global death toll from COVID-19 could double to 2 million before a successful vaccine is widely used and could be even higher without concerted action to curb the pandemic, an official at the World Health Organization said on Friday.

 

"Unless we do it all, (2 million deaths) ... is not only imaginable, but sadly very likely," Mike Ryan, head of the U.N. agency's emergencies programme, told a briefing on Friday.

 

The number of deaths about nine months since the novel coronavirus was discovered in China is nearing 1 million

"We are not out of the woods anywhere, we are not out of the woods in Africa," said Ryan.

 

He said young people should not be blamed for a recent increase in infections despite growing concerns that they are driving its spread after restrictions and lockdowns were eased around the world.

 

"I really hope we don't get into finger wagging: it's all because of the youth," said Ryan. "The last thing a young person needs is an old person pontificating and wagging the finger."

 

Rather, indoor gatherings of people of all ages were driving the epidemic, he said.

 

The WHO is continuing talks with China about its possible involvement in the COVAX financing scheme designed to guarantee fast and equitable access globally to COVID-19 vaccines, a week after the deadline for committing passed.

 

"We're in discussions with China about the role they may play as we go forward," said Bruce Aylward, WHO senior adviser and head of the ACT-Accelerator programme to back vaccines, treatments and diagnostics against COVID-19.

 

He confirmed that Taiwan has signed up to the scheme, even though it is not a WHO member, bringing the total to 159 participants. Some 34 are still deciding.

 

Talks with China also include discussion of the world's second-largest economy potentially supplying vaccines to the scheme, he said.

 

The UN agency published on Friday draft criteria for the assessment of emergency use of COVID-19 vaccines to help guide drugmakers as vaccine trials reach advanced stages, said WHO assistant director-general, Mariangela Simao.

 

The document will be available for public comment until Oct. 8, she said.

 

Earlier on Friday, a Chinese health official said the WHO had given its support for the country to start administering experimental coronavirus vaccines to people even while clinical trials were still underway.

 

(Reporting by Stephanie Nebenay and Emma Farge in Geneva and Michael Shields in Zurich; Writing by Josephine Mason in London; Editing by Hugh Lawson, Timothy Heritage, Kirsten Donovan)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-09-26

 

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[Jack Mountain]

Promises promises.

7.5 Billion people around and say avg life expectancy is 75 years then 100 million die every year, powered by nature. Nothing to see here ...

[huangnon]

What does the snake symbolize in the WHO's logo.?

[Jack Mountain]

57 minutes ago, huangnon said:

What does the snake symbolize in the WHO's logo.?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caduceus_as_a_symbol_of_medicine

[AndyFoxy]

WHO has zero credibility 

[Bender Rodriguez]

7000 people die in the USA - EVERY DAY - from various diseases, about 2.5 - 3 MILLION people per year

 

just the USA

 

but yes, let's panic & keep the lockdown for not even the first million world wide

Edited September 26, 2020 by Bender Rodriguez

[oldhippy]

7 minutes ago, Bender Rodriguez said:

7000 people die in the USA - EVERY DAY - from various diseases, about 2.5 - 3 MILLION people per year

 

just the USA

 

but yes, let's panic & keep the lockdown for not even the first million world wide

It must be great to have a crystal ball.

Edited September 26, 2020 by oldhippy
.

[from the home of CC]

with face saving games played by governments world wide deaths will continue to be underreported..

[riclag]

Special shout out to the WHO for recommending  not to restrict international travel or trade in Jan and Feb????

 

"WHO continues to advise against the application of travel or trade restrictions to countries experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks".

 

https://www.who.int/news-room/articles-detail/updated-who-recommendations-for-international-traffic-in-relation-to-covid-19-outbreak

[Scott]

Troll post removed.

 

[IAMHERE]

Sorry, 2 million is a rounding error.  WHO gets its funding from large numbers. States in America have the same funding rules.