The World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has urged all countries to lend their support to a pandemic preparedness treaty, and has cautioned that it will be a huge mistake to think that the danger of COVID-19 has passed.

In his closing comments to the WHO’s annual assembly, he stated that a potential global treaty will be discussed in a special session in November. While COVID-19 cases and deaths are dipping across the globe, the WHO chief emphasized that the only way out was through “tailored and consistent” public health measures combined with equitable vaccination.

He also urged all Member States to vaccinate at least 10% of the global population by the end of September and at least 30% by the end of this year... (UN, May 31, 2021)