It was at Monday's press conference at the WHO headquarters in Geneva that Maria Van Kerkhove emphasized that a low proportion of people have developed antibodies to the corona virus. She referred to studies conducted in three continents.

- It seems that there is a pattern that a small part of the population has developed antibodies to the virus. It indicates that a large part of the population is still at risk of becoming infected and we have a long way to go with this virus before we reach the herd immunity, said Maria Van Kerkhove.

One to ten percent

Van Kerkhoven stated that several studies in the US and in countries in Europe and Asia show that a very low number of people tested had developed antibodies, according to the tests. Only between one and ten percent had antibodies in the different studies.

- People often talk about obtaining herd immunity through vaccination and we have to be careful when we talk about herd immunity through natural infections between people because it can lead to a brutal calculation that does not put man, life and suffering at the center of the equation, WHO said: s crisis manager Michael Ryan.

Michael Ryan, director of WHO crisis preparedness Photo: Epa, Martial Trezzini

Michael Ryan objects to the image of getting noticed that they have become infected.

- There was a perception when the virus started spreading that we only saw the serious cases and that most people would be infected without noticing it, but these studies show the opposite. The total number of infections is probably much lower than we thought, said Ryan, who appeared at the same press conference.

Flock immunity and risks

Ryan also voiced criticism over whether countries have a strategy to achieve herd immunity and some die because of it. But he did not name any countries.

"This idea that countries that have not done so much to slow down the spread will suddenly attain flock immunity and do not care if losing some elderly people on the road is a very, very dangerous approach," said Michael Ryan.