WHO warns against politicisation of pandemic

The World Health Organisation has warned nations against “the politicisation” of the Covid-19 pandemic, saying it has led to confusion and disrespect for science and made the pandemic worse.
At the agency’s regular briefing, WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said last week saw the highest number of the Covid-19 cases reported since the pandemic began.
He said in recent days, several leaders around the world critically evaluated their situations and took action, such as implementing lockdowns, working and studying from home and other restrictions to try to limit the spread of the virus.
Dr Ghebreyesus said the WHO understood how these restrictions led to “pandemic fatigue” and the real mental and physical toll they took on people.
But he said governments and citizens could not give up, noting there were no “magic solutions” to the outbreak, just hard work from leaders and society at all levels.
“Science continues to tell us the truth about this virus,” Dr Ghebreyesus said.
“How to contain it, suppress it and stop it from returning, and how to save lives among those it reaches.”
He said countries that had followed the science had suppressed the virus and minimised deaths.
“Where there has been political division at the national level; where there has been blatant disrespect for science and health professionals,” Dr Ghebreyesus said. – WHO
confusion has spread and cases and deaths have mounted,” Dr Ghebreyesus said. – WHO