Yesterday, the World Health Organization recommended that any lifting of the general isolation measures imposed to contain the emerging corona virus should be gradual, and said that if the restrictions were eased prematurely, there would be a return to infection, stressing that it is not possible at this time to determine the source of the new corona virus. .
The WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific Region, Takshi Kasai, told a press conference at WHO headquarters in Manila that public isolation measures have proven effective, and that everyone should prepare for a new lifestyle that allows society to work while continuing to contain the virus.
He added, in his online press conference, that the process of adapting to the epidemic will be the natural situation, until a vaccine for the virus is reached.
He said that it is not possible, at the present time, to determine the source of the emerging corona virus, adding that no results have been reached yet.
But he said, during the conference, that the available evidence points to an animal origin of the virus.
Last week, US President Donald Trump said that his government was trying to determine whether the Corona virus had originated in a laboratory in central China's Wuhan city.
On the other hand, Takashi Kasai warned the countries of the Asia-Pacific region against ignoring other medical services in light of the outbreak of the Corona virus, indicating that the region may face a new crisis, if no attention is paid to other diseases.
He said that facing the Corona virus should not stop other health services, such as: vaccination, and treatment of chronic and acute diseases, which affect millions in the region.
He added, "If we allow the Coronavirus to disrupt vaccination programs, our region will face a new crisis while health systems are already facing pressure."
He pointed out that in the event of declining rates of vaccination, the infectious diseases that had long been under control or increased will increase, indicating the emergence of new cases of polio, in addition to the outbreak of measles in different countries of the region last year.
He said, "We cannot leave the Corona virus at risk, putting the lives of citizens at risk, by undermining other health services."
Kasai also called on the Asia Pacific region government not to compromise efforts to contain the Coronavirus, and to work on developing long-term strategies that balance the protection of citizens ’health and the return of economic and social life.
On the other hand, the World Health Organization (WHO), on Monday, responded to US President Donald Trump's criticism of the UN's response to the outbreak of the Corona virus (Covid-19), saying that the White House had been informed of all information on the epidemic (from day one). ).
"We have not hidden anything from the United States, since day one," said WHO Director-General Tidros Gebresos at a press conference in Geneva.
Gebrissos confirmed what was stated in the report of the American newspaper "Washington Post", on Sunday, that American health experts had continuously received information from WHO representatives regarding the status of the coronavirus as it started in China.
"The United States is not the only country that has experts in the World Health Organization, there are other countries that also have representatives, but this does not mean that they have an advantage over other countries," he said. "We give our information to everyone ... this is a prerequisite for prevention."
The organization warned against neglecting other medical services, in light of the Corona virus crisis.