WHO Expects COVID-19 Pandemic to Be Brought Under Control Within Two Years

• 09.11.2020, 14:13
•  World

© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

The World Health Organization (WHO) does not know when the COVID-19 pandemic will be over, but assumes that the disease would be brought under control within two years, the WHO press office told TASS.

Friday, September 11, marks six months since the novel coronavirus outbreak was officially declared a pandemic. The WHO defines the pandemic as "the worldwide spread of a new disease." At the early stages of the outbreak, until March 11, the WHO viewed the novel coronavirus situation as an epidemic with multiple hotspots. At the same time, back on January 30, the WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern over the outbreak, which is the organization’s highest alert level. The alert is still in place.

"At this point in time, we do not know when the pandemic will come to an end, but it is possible that with global efforts and modern technology, the pandemic could be brought under control within a couple of years," the WHO press office said, adding that countries should "focus on 4 priorities: prevent amplifying events, empower people to protect themselves, focus on public health basics, and protect the vulnerable, including older people and those with underlying conditions."

The World Health Organization believes that six months after the pandemic was declared, the novel coronavirus has not become less or more contagious.

"Human viruses can evolve, becoming less or more pathogenic. Based on the current evidence from over 80 000 genomic sequences made available publicly, the transmissibility and severity of COVID-19 haven’t changed," the WHO press office said, answering to a question from TASS.

The reproduction number of COVID-19 (which measures the transmissibility) is naturally above 2 in the absence of control measures, "which means it has an epidemic potential to take off if we allow it to," the organization said.

"We are constantly monitoring the virus for any significant changes," it said. "While SARS-CoV2 is still a new virus, we already know a lot and we can use that information to mount an effective response."