WHO: Corona vaccine may need 18 months

The Director-General of the World Health Organization has announced that 45 countries are participating in clinical trials of drugs that may help treat the Coronavirus (Covid-19), but he stressed that developing a vaccine for the virus may take a year and a half as described.

"It still takes a year or a year and a half to develop a vaccine for the Corona virus. We are aware of the importance of drug therapies to save lives, and I am pleased to announce that Norway and Spain have joined the solidarity campaign that is working on clinical drug trials of four drugs," said Tedros Adhanum Gebresos.

He pointed out that the more countries participating in these experiments, this contributed to the acceleration of finding a cure for this epidemic.

He stated in a press conference via closed-circuit television in the Swiss city of Geneva, that the world has so far recorded half a million cases of corona, and more than 20 thousand deaths, considering that the numbers are tragic, but he mentioned that hundreds of thousands of people are still alive around the world.

He also clarified that the lack of medical protective equipment poses the greatest threat to joint international efforts to save people's lives.

Call for cooperation
He stated that the organization has sent preventive equipment to about two million people in 74 countries and is preparing to send similar quantities to another 60 countries.

"More needs to be done, this problem can only be solved through international cooperation and solidarity," he added, calling on the countries of the world to use all their resources to stop the spread of the virus.

As of Friday evening, the number of Corona sufferers has reached nearly 577,000 around the world, including about 27,000 deaths, while about 130,000 have recovered.

The spread of the virus forced many countries to close their borders, suspend flights, impose curfews, disrupt studies, cancel several activities, prevent public gatherings, and close places of worship.