Coronavirus deaths could more than double to two million without collective action against the pandemic, the World Health Organization has warned.
The number of cases worldwide has soared past 32 million, with deaths approaching one million, the global economy devastated, and major cultural and sports events disrupted.
“One million is a terrible number and we need to reflect on that before we start considering a second million,” the WHO’s emergencies director Michael Ryan told reporters on Friday when asked how high the death toll could go.
“Are we prepared collectively to do what it takes to avoid that number?
“If we don’t take those actions… yes, we will be looking at that number and sadly much higher.”
Vaccine Sharing
Meanwhile, Australia’s prime minister urged any nation that develops a vaccine to share it with the world.
The pandemic has spurred worldwide efforts to develop a vaccine to help defeat Covid-19, as well as efforts to try to ensure fair and widespread distribution.
“Whoever finds the vaccine must share it… This is a global responsibility and it’s a moral responsibility,” Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Friday in a message to the virtual UN General Assembly.
“Some might see short-term advantage or even profit, but I assure you… humanity will have a very long memory and be a very, very severe judge.”
World Countries Tighten Measures
The WHO warning came as the United States, the hardest-hit nation in the world, crossed seven million cases — more than a fifth of the global total despite accounting for only four percent of the world population.
Many European nations, meanwhile, are struggling with new waves of infections.
Spain expanded a lockdown in and around the capital Madrid to cover one million people from Monday.
In Britain, authorities announced restrictions now extending to a quarter of the population, while two supermarket chains said they were rationing purchases of certain goods to clamp down on panic buying.
Moscow, meanwhile, ordered vulnerable residents of the Russian capital to avoid infection by staying at home, while Israel tightened its lockdown by stopping people from taking flights out of the country.
France reported record figures — daily cases soared past 16,000 for the first time on Thursday. But moves by the authorities to contain the virus are not popular with many because of their painful economic toll.
Source: AFP (edited by Al-Manar English Website)
