Geneva: A team from the World Health Organisation (WHO) will be travelling to China yet again to identify the zoonotic source of the coronavirus pandemic. This trip to China is reportedly the third visit of the WHO representatives to Wuhan, China.
Speaking to reporters during the global online media briefing in Geneva, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHO stated, “”All preparations have been finalised and WHO experts will be traveling to China on the next available flight to prepare scientific plans with their Chinese counterparts for identifying the zoonotic source of COVID-19.”
“The experts will develop the scope and terms of reference for a WHO-led international mission. The mission objective is to advance the understanding of animal hosts for COVID-19 and ascertain how the disease jumped between animals to humans,” Dr Tedros further expressed.
Dr Tedros had visited China on January 28th and after his return from China, PHEIC was declared on January 30th. China was praised by Dr Tedros and WHO during the declaration of PHEIC.
Dr Tedros expressed, “I think visiting China was a very important one, which is not a new one. Of course, I did it many times to other countries where there were outbreaks and so on. This one was special because I was able to learn many things from what China is doing. And I’m very confident by what they’re doing. I have seen the capacity, and I believe that they will control this outbreak as soon as possible. They have all the capacity that needs.
But not only what they’re doing is protecting their people, but I know from the figures also, you know that it’s protecting the rest of the world. Outside China we only have 98 cases, and no deaths. If strong measures were not taken in China this would not have happened. And that’s why I also said we have to appreciate what China is doing. And this declaration, is not actually because China is not doing what it can. It’s actually doing more than China is required to do. “
"All preparations have been finalised and WHO experts will be traveling to #China on the next available flight to prepare scientific plans with their Chinese counterparts for identifying the zoonotic source of #COVID19"-@DrTedros
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) July 7, 2020
