The World Health Organization (WHO) hopes the coronavirus crisis will last shorter than during the so-called Spanish flu of 1918. According to the head of the WHO, specialists hope that the coronavirus pandemic will end in less than two years.
– Speak [grypy hiszpanki – przyp. red.]which were described actually lasted two years – from February 1918 to April 1920. Two years before they stopped, until the end – said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Friday.
Technology versus globalization
He added that today we have better connectivity in the world, which allows the virus to spread faster.
– But at the same time, we also have better technology and the knowledge of how to keep it. The disadvantages are globalization, proximity, communication, but the advantage is better technology. We hope to end this pandemic in less than two years, ‘he said.
Ghebreyesus stressed, however, that it is necessary to combine efforts, national unity, and effective use of the tools already available in the fight against coronavirus. He expressed hope that the creation of an effective vaccine will help in this.
Still not enough tests
WHO epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove said more research is needed to determine the significance of the coronavirus mutations.
– A special team has been formed to identify mutations (…). We are investigating what mutations mean and how they work, ‘said Van Kerkhove.
WHO’s director of emergencies, Mike Ryan, estimated that the scale of the pandemic in Mexico is inaccurately estimated and unknown because there are too few tests – out of 100,000. of people, three tests are performed, while in the USA – 150.
Studies show that so far less than 10 percent. of the population have coronavirus antibodies.
On August 21, the number of people infected with the coronavirus exceeded 23 million. Almost 800,000 have died from COVID-19, and more than 15 million patients have recovered.
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