WHO boss warns there’s ‘no silver bullet’ as coronavirus cases top 18M

The World Health Organisation (WHO) boss has warned there’s “no silver bullet” and “might never be” as coronavirus cases top 18 million globally.

Cases have increased sixfold in just three months – six months after fewer than 100 cases were reported outside China, WHO Director General Tedros Ghebreyesus said at a news conference on Monday.

While there is hope one of the dozens of vaccines in development around the world will prove effective, Dr Tedros urged the world to focus on methods within our control in the meantime.

“A number of vaccines are now in phase three clinical trials and we all hope to have a number of effective vaccines that can help prevent people from infection,” he said

“However, there’s no silver bullet at the moment and there might never be.

“For now, stopping outbreaks comes down to the basics of public health and disease control.”

New ‘game-changing’ coronavirus tests can diagnose Covid-19 and flu in 90 minutes

Vaccine candidates in phase 3 are in the final stages of evaluation, when doses are given to potentially tens of thousands of volunteers.

According to the WHO, there are six potential vaccines in phase 3, including the candidate developed by Oxford University.

Dr Tedros underlined the importance of tracing contacts until a vaccine is available.

He said: “Testing, isolating and treating patients, and tracing and quarantining their contacts. Do it all.

“Inform, empower and listen to communities. Do it all.

“For individuals, it’s about keeping physical distance, wearing a mask, cleaning hands regularly and coughing safely away from others. Do it all.

“The message to people and governments is clear: do it all.”

Melbourne imposes new coronavirus curfew after ‘state of disaster’ declared in Victoria

The John Hopkins University reports around a quarter of cases are in the US, with more than 4.6 million confirmed.

Brazil has the second highest number at more than 2.7 million and India has reported 1.8 million.

The US has the highest number of deaths at 154,860, while Brazil has reported 94,104.

Mexico recently overtook the UK for the third highest number of deaths in the world with 47,746. The UK has reported 46,286 deaths.

Dr Tedros said that services for other diseases have become disrupted as a result.

“In addition to the direct toll Covid-19 is having, the committee (Emergency Committee on Covid-19) noted the health impact that disrupted services are having on a range of other diseases,” he said.

“That compounds what we already know about reduced immunisation coverage, cancer screening and care, and mental health services.

“A survey of responses from 103 countries between mid-May and early July found that 67% of countries report disruption in family planning and contraception services.

“More than half of countries reported disruption in antenatal care services and more than a third of countries reported disruption in child-birth services.” – MB Bureau