20.6.20

Pandemic is accelerating, warns WHO

The head of the WHO said the coronavirus pandemic is “accelerating” and that more than 150,000 cases were reported on Thursday — the “highest single-day number” so far.

In a media briefing on Friday, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said nearly half of the newly reported cases were from the Americas, with significant numbers from South Asia and the Middle East.

“We are in a new and dangerous phase,” he said, warning that restrictive measures are still needed. “Many people are understandably fed up with being at home (and) countries are understandably eager to open up their societies.” But Tedros warned that the virus is still “spreading fast” and that measures like social distancing, mask wearing and hand-washing are still critical. He noted the toll would be especially great on refugees in particular, of whom more than 80% live in mostly developing nations. 

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