The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says he hopes that the COVID -19 pandemic will be over in less than two years.
While speaking in Geneva, he also said that the pandemic was similar to the 1918 flu pandemic. But, he added that due to technological advances in medicine over the last century, there is a greater possibility that it could be stopped ‘in a shorter time.’
“We hope to finish this pandemic (in) less than two years, especially if we can pool our efforts,” said Tedros.
“But at the same time, we have also the technology to stop it, and the knowledge to stop it,” he added.
During the 1918 flu, it has infected 500 million people and killed around 50 million worldwide. So far, COVID-19 has killed 800,000 people and almost 23 million infections have been recorded.
“Throughout history, outbreaks and pandemics have changed economies and societies. This one will be no different,” said Tedros at the press conference at Geneva.
Tedros explained that the lack of pollution from the world that stopped for a while due to the pandemic has created a new “impetus” in countries around the world to maintain a healthier living environment.
“The pandemic has given us a glimpse of our world as it could be: cleaner skies and rivers,” added Tedros.
Source: BBC, Fox 35 Orlando, The Spectator Index