Put armed conflicts on lockdown; Pandemic accelerating; Numbing:381293 Cases,16571 Deaths; Armed-forces fanning out to ensure lockdowns
By Neeraj Bajpai
It is the time to put the armed conflict on lockdown, says World Body Chief, and focus together on the true fight of “our lives”.The disease is accelerating as per the calculations of the Global Health Watchdog. The numbing figures of 3,81,293 confirmed coronavirus cases and 16,571 deaths till this morning continue to swell, driving governments in several countries to clamp strictest ever lockdowns, pitching makeshift hospitals and measures to help people in crisis.
In an appeal issued on Monday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged warring parties across the world to lay down their weapons in support of the bigger battle against COVID-19: the common enemy that is now threatening all of humankind.
“The fury of the virus illustrates the folly of war”, He said.“That is why today, I am calling for an immediate global ceasefire in all corners of the world. It is time to put the armed conflict on lockdown and focus together on the true fight of our lives.”
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said The pandemic is accelerating: whilst it took 67 days from the first reported case to the first 100,000 cases, it took 11 days to reach 200,000, and just four days for 300,000 cases to be reported.
However, the WHO chief insisted that “we are not prisoners to statistics”, and that it is still possible to change the trajectory of the pandemic – by flattening the curve – adhering more closely to the agency’s guidance, particularly by testing every suspected case, isolating and caring for every confirmed case, and tracing and quarantining every close contact.
This morning, Itlay recorded over 6,077 deaths & 63,297 cases;The United States 43,847 cases /557 deaths; Spain 35,136 cases/2,311 deaths, Germany 29,056 /123;Iran 23,049/1812 ;China 81,093/3,270; South Korea 8,961/111; UK 6,650/335.
In India, Major part of the country has been brought under the lockdown amid about 470 cases and nine deaths. Strict implementation of the lockdown is enforced. This morning, police cleared the much talked about Shaheen- Bag protest site where dharna was being staged for the last few months against the Citizens Amended Act and NRC.
The ceasefire would allow humanitarians to reach populations that are most vulnerable to the spread of the Covid-19, which first emerged in Wuhan, China, last December, and has now been reported in more than 180 countries.
So far, there are nearly 300,000 cases worldwide, and more than 12,700 deaths, according to the World Health Organization9 WHO).
As the UN chief pointed out, COVID-19 does not care about nationality or ethnicity, or other differences between people, and “attacks all, relentlessly”, including during wartime.
It is the most vulnerable – women and children, people with disabilities, the marginalized, displaced and refugees – who pay the highest price during the conflict and who are most at risk of suffering “devastating losses” from the disease.
Furthermore, health systems in war-ravaged countries have often reached the point of total collapse, while the few health workers who remain are also seen as targets.
The UN chief called on warring parties to pull back from hostilities, put aside mistrust and animosity, and “silence the guns; stop the artillery; end the airstrikes”. This is crucial, he said, “to help create corridors for life-saving aid. To open precious windows for diplomacy. To bring hope to places among the most vulnerable to COVID-19.”
While inspired by new rapprochement and dialogue between combatants to enable joint approaches to push back the disease, the Secretary-General said more still needs to be done.
“End the sickness of war and fight the disease that is ravaging our world”, he appealed. “It starts by stopping the fighting everywhere. Now. That is what our human family needs, now more than ever.”
A new awareness-raising campaign, led by the world’s top football stars, called ‘Pass the message to kick out coronavirus’, was launched yesterday by the UN health agency, WHO, and international football’s governing body, FIFA.
The campaign involves a video featuring many of the biggest names in football (soccer to those in the US), including Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson, and former England team captain, and World Cup semi-finalist, Gary Lineker.
FIFA President Gianni Infanti, said that the organization is calling on everyone to follow the WHO’s five key steps to stop the spread of the disease, focusing on handwashing, coughing etiquette, not touching your face, social distancing, and staying home if you feel unwell.
During his Monday press briefing, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced that, since its launch just four days ago, the agency’s WhatsApp Health Alert messaging service, has already attracted some 10 million users. The service delivers reliable, accurate health information directly to users’ mobile phones.
Anyone who has Whatsapp on their mobile phone can subscribe by texting “hi”, to +41 22 501 76 55.
They will then receive a message from the UN health agency, inviting them to request further information on a range of Coronavirus related topics, including how to protect yourself from infection, travel advice, and latest news.
The service can send out replies to questions about coronavirus, 24 hours a day, and is designed to service government decision-makers by providing the latest WHO numbers and situation report.
Currently sending out information in English, the free service will be launched in Arabic, French and Spanish-language versions later this week. Chinese and Russian versions are also being planned. To find out how to sign up, go to whatsapp.com/coronavirus/who.
On the subject of treatments for COVID -19, Tedros reminded reporters that no treatment has so far been proven to be effective. The WHO chief noted that using untested medicines, without the right evidence, could raise false hopes, and even do more harm than good, in the short term.
“Small, observational and non-randomized studies will not give us the answers we need”, he said, adding that the use of untested treatments could also cause a shortage of essential medicines that are needed to treat other diseases.
We’re not ‘prisoners to statistics’
Updating the press on the latest COVID-19 case figures, Tedros said that the pandemic is accelerating: whilst it took 67 days from the first reported case to the first 100,000 cases, it took 11 days to reach 200,000, and just four days for 300,000 cases to be reported.
However, the WHO chief insisted that “we are not prisoners to statistics”, and that it is still possible to change the trajectory of the pandemic – by flattening the curve – adhering more closely to the agency’s guidance, particularly by testing every suspected case, isolating and caring for every confirmed case, and tracing and quarantining every close contact.
Recognizing that some countries are finding it hard to carry out such measures, Tedros expressed his gratitude for the efforts that several nations have made, to send Emergency Medical Teams to care for patients and train health workers in countries that need support. “This is an incredible example of international solidarity”, he said.
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