Members States agree to an independent probe into WHO’s COVID-19 response

Geneva: In a vindication to the persistent reportage of the GoaChronicle.com team, Member States of the World Health Organisation (WHA) have agreed today at the World Health Assembly (WHA) to an independent probe in to WHO’s  COVID-19 response.

Nations participating at the 73rd WHA virtually, adopted a resolution by consensus calling for an “impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation” of the international response to the crisis, including a probe of WHO actions and “their timelines pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Globally over 4.9 million infected patients with COVID-19 and over 320,000 deaths,

The Director General of WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in interaction with the GoaChronicle.com Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Savio Rodrigues, opined that the WHO had given nations sufficient time to act post the declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on January 30th. 

The WHO categorised the COVID-19 as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. According to WHO spokesperson, a pandemic is not an alert level used under WHO’s emergency response framework.

Ninety-five countries went under partial and full lockdown after the WHO termed COVID-19 as a pandemic on March 11th; a good six weeks after PHEIC declaration on January 30th.

Interestingly, the WHO opposed vehemently opposed travel restrictions to and from China. On January 30th, he stated, “It (China) has already done incredible things to limit the transmission of the virus to other countries. And where respect is due, then you don’t punish. Meaning if anyone is thinking about taking measures, it’s going to be wrong. And WHO doesn’t recommend, and actually opposes, any restrictions for travel and trade or other measures against China.”