Australia called on Sunday for an independent investigation into the global response to the new coronavirus pandemic and how WHO has handled the crisis.
Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said her country “would claim“including an investigation into how China handled the epidemic in Wuhan, the city where the Covid-19 appeared at the end of the year.
“We need to know details that only an independent report can allow us to understand about the origin of the virus, how to deal with it (and) the transparency with which information has been shared.“she told ABC public broadcaster.
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Marise Payne said Australia shares the same concerns as the United States, President Donad Trump accused the World Health Organization (WHO) of being too close to China and of mismanaging the pandemic.
Donald Trump announced Tuesday the suspension of the American contribution to the WHO, which amounts to “400 to 500 million dollars per year“.
“I am not sure that a health organization, responsible for the dissemination of a large part of the communication tools, and which took a large part in an early intervention (…) can carry out this examination.“, said Marise Payne.
“It’s a bit like (being) a poacher and gamekeeper“, according to her.
Doubts about China’s transparency
The consequences of the pandemic will “in a way“alter relations between Australia and China, said the minister, who said she doubted Beijing’s transparency.
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Health Minister Greg Hunt said he supports an independent investigation, saying Australia has succeeded in limiting the spread of the virus in part by going against WHO advice.
Australia has been able to achieve good results compared to the world average
Australia, which has 6,600 cases of coronavirus and 70 deaths from Covid-19, was one of the first countries in the world to ban travelers from China from entering the country.
“Australia has been able to achieve good results in terms of human balance sheet compared to the world average“grace”to our medical experts here in Australia“said Greg Hunt.
“We know that we were the subject of harsh criticism from certain authorities and the WHO in Geneva when we imposed a ban on China on February 1.“to enter the territory,” he said.
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