Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanum Ghebreyesus, warned that the coronavirus pandemic that struck the world in 2020 will not be the last, noting that "this is a fait accompli."
In a recorded speech published by the organization today, Saturday, on the occasion of the approaching International Day of Preparedness for Epidemics, Ghebreyesus said: "It is difficult to believe that COVID-19 was not known to us at all for one year only.
"Our world has been turned upside down during the past 12 months."
He stressed that "the repercussions of the pandemic are outside the scope of the disease itself, and it has far-reaching consequences for societies and the economy."
He added: "But all this should not come as a surprise, and for many years there have been numerous reports, research and guidance that all said that the world is not ready to face any pandemic."
He went on to say that real preparation is not just a job to be done in the health sector only, but it requires a comprehensive approach by all governments and societies.
Ghebreyesus added that the pandemic has shed light on the close links between human, animal, and plant health, and this matter can only be dealt with through a single health approach."
WHO chief emphasized, "History tells us that this pandemic will not be the last, and epidemics are a fact of life. But with investments in the public health sector supported by a comprehensive joint approach for all governments and societies."
Since January 2020, the world has been facing an acute health crisis resulting from the outbreak of the new Coronavirus "COVID-19", which began its spread from the Chinese city of Wuhan.
The pandemic led to huge losses in many sectors of the economy, especially transport, tourism, and entertainment.
WHO classified this outbreak as a pandemic on March 11, and the virus has so far infected more than 80 million people around the world, killing about 1.75 million of them.
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