On Thursday, the World Health Organization (WHO) urged coordinated action and political commitments to save lives and prevent economic and health damage from the ongoing pandemic. In a press conference, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, stated that the COVID-19 pandemic is not over; however, the end is in sight.

The WHO chief′s remarks came on the heels of a report released by the ACT-Accelerator Facilitation Council warning that the global pandemic is not over and that it′s no time for COVID-19 complacency. The ACT-Accelerator is a global collaboration, co-founded by WHO and partners, to accelerate the development, production, and equitable access to COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines.

The report released on Thursday noted that many countries are far from meeting global targets on vaccination coverage, testing rates, and access to treatments and PPE. According to the report, COVID-19 vaccination rates in low-income countries were reported to be 19%, compared to almost 75% in high-income countries. The report also showed that the roll-out of new lifesaving COVID-19 treatments, including oral antivirals, in low and lower-middle-income countries remains limited or non-existent. 

(Source: https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/who-warns-against-covid-complacency-urges-for-life-saving-action/94389388 )