Coronavirus May ‘Never Go Away,’ Says WHO Official

• Dr Michael Ryan of the World Health Organization recently declared that coronavirus “may never go away.”
• During a press briefing, the WHO official said that COVID-19 may “become another endemic virus” so we might have to learn to live with it, just like other viruses.

The coronavirus may “never go away,” a top World Health Organization (WHO) official has recently declared. In a virtual press briefing held from Geneva, Dr Michael Ryan, executive director of the WHO health emergencies program has told that COVID-19 may just “become another endemic virus in our communities.”

“HIV hasn’t gone away but we have come to terms with the virus,” continued Dr Ryan. “I’m not comparing the two diseases but I think it is important that we’re realistic.”

“I don’t think anyone can predict when or if this disease will disappear,” said WHO’s Dr Michael Ryan.

As of the moment, over 100 potential vaccines are already in development but none are still officially available in the market.

An effective vaccine may be our best “shot at eliminating the virus” but that vaccine will have to be “highly effective” and highly accessible for everyone, said the official.

Dr Ryan also pointed out that other diseases – such as measles – have never been entirely eliminated despite the availability of vaccines.

Meanwhile, WHO infectious disease epidemiologist Maria van Kerkhove also commented:

“We need to get into the mindset that it is going to take some time to come out of this pandemic.”

As of May 14, 2020, there have been 4.4 million reported infections of COVID-19 with a total death toll of almost 300,000. So far, 1.6 million have recovered from the dreaded virus.

“There is some magical thinking going on that lockdowns work perfectly and that unlocking lockdowns will go great,” Dr Ryan pointed out. “Both are fraught with dangers.”

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