WHO says it cannot force China to provide more information on the origin of COVID pandemic Coronavirus News

A senior official at the World Health Organization said the WHO could not force China to disclose further data on the origin of COVID-19, adding that it would propose tests to understand where the virus originated “to the next level”.

Asked by a journalist how the WHO would “force” China to be more open, Mike Ryan, the agency’s emergency program director, said in a press conference that “the WHO has no power to force anyone in this regard”.

“We look forward to the cooperation, contribution and support of all our member states in this endeavor,” Ryan said Monday.

The theory is that the virus jumped from animals, perhaps starting with bats, to humans or escaped from the laboratory in Wuhan (China).

The Wuhan laboratory escape theory it has recently become the subject of new public debate after some famous scientists asked for full research into the origin of the virus.

The hypothesis that the virus accidentally spilled from the laboratory was not ruled out by scientists in the early stages of the onset of coronavirus. China has repeatedly denied that the lab was responsible for the incident.

Looking for the origins of COVID-19, members of the WHO team that visited China this year said they do not have access to all the data, prompting an ongoing debate on transparency in the country.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump and his supporters have consistently escalated conspiracy theories, saying China deliberately spilled the virus.

U.S. Undersecretary of State Mike Pompeo last year stressed that the virus came from the lab while there was “significant evidence” while acknowledging that there was no evidence and no certainty.

‘Two-track pandemic’

Meanwhile, the WHO chief called on COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers to waive the new doses of the COVAX global jab equity scheme or to commit half of their volumes to the WHO-sponsored initiative.

In a media appearance, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus deplored the difference in the COVID-19 vaccine that, he said, has created a “two-way pandemic” with nations backed by Western countries and still the poorest, renewing demands for gunfire.

He expressed his frustration that some poor countries have not been able to immunize their health workers, the elderly and other populations vulnerable to the serious disease COVID-19.

“Increasingly, we are seeing a two-track pandemic: many countries are still in a very dangerous situation, and some of those with the highest vaccination rates have begun to talk about ending the cuts,” Tedros told reporters, adding that the vaccine distribution was crucial. “.

“Sharing vaccines is essential now. To end the acute phase # COVID-19 pandemic “-@DrTedros # VaccineEquity

– World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) June 7, 2021

The WHO chief said that six months after the first coronavirus vaccines were administered, high-income countries have administered “almost 44% of the world’s doses”.

“Low-income countries have administered only 0.4 percent. The most disappointing thing about this statistic is that it hasn’t changed in months.”

Tedros has called for a major effort around the world to include at least 10% of the population of all countries by September, and at least 30 percent by the end of the year.

This will require an additional 250 million doses by September, 100 million doses in June and July alone.

“This weekend, G7 leaders will meet at the annual summit,” Tedros said. “These seven nations have the power to meet these goals.

“I call on the G7 not only to commit to sharing doses, but also to share in June and July,” he said.

“I also call on all manufacturers to give COVAX the first right to refuse the new volume of COVID-19 vaccines, or to commit 50% of their volumes to COVAX this year.”

COVAX was created to ensure an equitable distribution of vaccines, especially to low-income countries, and has already delivered more than 80 million doses to 129 territories.

But the WHO says there are about 200 million doses behind where it expected it to be.

In order to be eligible for COVAX vaccines, they must be approved by the WHO and given the status of an emergency use list.

To date, the UN health agency has given the green light to vaccines created by AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, Sinopharm and Sinovac.