World Health Organization (WHO) director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned on Monday that the global coronavirus pandemic crisis around the globe is getting worse. 

(Photo : Reutersconnect)
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus attends a news conference organized by Geneva Association of United Nations Correspondents (ACANU) amid the COVID-19 outbreak, caused by the novel coronavirus, at the WHO headquarters in Geneva Switzerland

Cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) around the globe have now reached over 13.2 million with death toll of 576,432. On the other hand, more than 7.7 million people have already recovered from the coronavirus, according to a data obtained from the Johns Hopkins University Coonavirus Resource Center.

Ghebreyesus said the number of infections continue to rise and the COVID-19 crisis is getting "worse and worse and worse." He noted that this will not happen if countries only adhere with all the health and safety measures. 

Ghebreyesus noted that many countries are heading towards the wrong direction. He said if countries will not strictly implement social distancing, wearing of face masks, and regular reminders on handwashing, the crisis will get worse, according to a published report by Reuters.

In a recent virtual briefing from the U.N. agency's headquarters in Geneva, WHO said there could be a no return to normal for the foreseeable future as there's still is no vaccine that would ultimately end the pandemic.

The statement of WHO comes after 230,000 new cases were recorded in a 24-hour period globally on Sunday. Ghebreyesus said countries that recently reopened their economic activities are now experiencing a resurgence. WHO sets a threshold of a maximum of five percent of the positivity rate before a place can safely reopen. 

However, if the number of new COVID-19 infections through COVID-19 tests exceed to over five percent, then it is not advisable to reopen. The resurgence experienced by other countries was because of the methods they followed that are not yet proven. 

WHO reminded governments to have a comprehensive strategy to suppress the transmission of the coronavirus. The agency reminded governments to always educate their people on proper hygiene. 

Ghebreyesus noted that they are "four scenarios" playing around the world today. He said there were countries that were alerted and avoided large outbreaks, countries that got a major outbreak but under control, those that eased their restrictions and are now experiencing a resurgence, and those that are in the intense transmission phase.

The United States remained the country with the highest number of infections and is followed by Brazil, India, Russia, and Peru. 

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