▲ Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General
On the 22nd (local time), the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) urged countries to take unwavering measures against quarantine and vaccination, saying the COVID-19 situation is not over yet.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at the opening speech of the 75th World Health Assembly (WHA) held in Geneva, Switzerland on the same day, "It is not over anywhere in the world unless it ends everywhere in the world. “He said this.
In particular, he expressed great concern about phenomena such as the refusal to test for COVID-19.
It was also pointed out that the number of new confirmed cases is increasing in nearly 70 countries, a phenomenon that stands out in places where testing rates have plummeted.
Secretary-General Tedros also cited as one of the risk factors in developing countries that vaccination against COVID-19 is still low.
According to WHO statistics he published, the global average vaccination rate is only 60%.
Nearly one billion people in low-income countries are still unvaccinated.
Only 57 countries around the world, mostly developed countries, achieved the target of immunization rate of 70% or more of the population.
Secretary-General Tedros added that he is concerned that the fatality rate is rising again in Africa, which has the lowest vaccination rates in recent years, and stressed that all countries must achieve 70% coverage as soon as possible.
(Photo = Getty Images Korea)