COVID-19: ‘Take Steps To Protect Yourself, But Don’t Panic’ – WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) has advised individuals to take necessary steps to protect themselves against coronavirus infection rather than panic over likely spread.

WHO advised that taking concrete steps will limit spread of the virus as well as prevent individuals from getting infected.

WHO’s Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus disclosed this in Geneva, at a press briefing on Friday.

“Our greatest enemy right now is not the virus itself; it is fear, rumors and stigma and our greatest assets are facts, reason and solidarity,” Ghebreyesus said.

Ghebreyesus revealed that China (where the virus originated from) had confirmed a total of 78, 959 cases of the covid-19 including 2791 deaths.

He also said that 4351 cases have been confirmed in 49 countries outside China, including 67 deaths.

Furthermore, Ghebreyesus said that most of those infected outside China were Italian and Iranian nationals.

“Since yesterday, Denmark, Estonia, Ruthenia, Netherlands and Nigeria have all reported their first cases; and all these cases have links to Italy.

“24 cases have been exported from Italy to 14 countries; and 97 cases have been exported from Iran to 11 countries,” he added.

The WHO DG also said that a new medication is underway, but he advised that people should abide by the general guidelines on prevention.

“At the same time, work is also progressing on therapeutics; more than 20 vaccines are in development globally and several therapeutics are in several trials and we expect the first result in a few weeks.

“But we don’t need to wait for the vaccines; there are things every individual can do to protect themselves and others today,” he said.

Ghebreyesus also stressed that the key to contain the virus was to break the chain of transmission, through washing of hands, among others.