Covid-19 has humbled us – Dr Tedros (Audio)
"We know that finding, isolating and testing people with symptoms and tracing and quarantining their contacts is the most critical way to stop transmission."
“I have spoken about humility a number of times over the last few months and I think it’s fair to say that this microscopic virus has humbled all of us.”
This statement was made by the World Health Organization’s director-general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in his briefing on June 10.
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“A new virus means that we’re learning as we go. We have learned a lot, but there’s still a lot we don’t know.”
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He said since February the organisation highlighted that asymptomatic people can transmit Covid-19, but that more research is needed to establish the extent of asymptomatic transmission.
“We know that finding, isolating and testing people with symptoms and tracing and quarantining their contacts is the most critical way to stop transmission. Many countries have succeeded in suppressing transmission and controlling the virus doing exactly this.”
Also read: World Health Organisation updates guidelines on wearing masks
He said the organisation’s advice and guidance on the virus will continue to evolve as new information becomes available.
"This morning, I met virtually with 21 of @WHO_HQ_Interns, from 19 countries.
I was not only struck by their creativity, energy and positivity, but also how freely they discussed the lessons they have learned"-@DrTedros
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) June 10, 2020
He added that the organisation’s interns have become a vital part of its workforce.
“As part of WHO’s transformation we have been overhauling our intern programme to increase the diversity of our interns and make it possible for more young people from more countries to take an internship at WHO, especially young people from low and middle-income countries. I’m glad to see that the number of people we’re receiving from these countries increased.
“We’re committed to investing in young health leaders who will build the healthier, safer, fairer world we all want for our children and grandchildren.”
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