GENEVA, Mar 19 (NNN-XINHUA) – More than 200,000 cases of COVID-19 have been reported globally, to the World Health Organisation (WHO), among which more than 8,000 people have lost their lives, WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said here yesterday.
Eighty percent of all cases worldwide were reported in two regions — the Western Pacific region and the European region, Tedros noted.
He stressed, there are many things all countries and regions can do, although different countries and communities are in different situations, with different levels of COVID-19 transmission.
“That same spirit of solidarity must be at the centre of our efforts to defeat COVID-19,” said Tedros.
Tedros reiterated, countries must isolate, test, treat every case and trace every contact, to suppress and control the epidemic, warning that, if those measures were not taken, the transmission could continue at a low level before re-surging, once physical distancing measures are lifted.
Particularly, Tedros noted, confirmed mild cases should be isolated in health facilities, where trained professionals can provide good medical care, prevent clinical progression and onward transmission.
He added, although it isn’t the ideal situation, people with mild disease can be cared for at home, as well, if health facilities are at risk of being overwhelmed.
The number of COVID-19 infections outside China has risen to 112,878, as of Wednesday, according to the situation dashboard by WHO.– NNN-XINHUA
