*We all hope to have a number of effective vaccines 鈹�Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO

*Warns 鈥榥o silver bullet鈥� to contain virus

*Keep physical distance, wear mask, clean hands regularly, cough safely away from others

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

Expressing satisfaction that the world has made considerable progress in identifying treatments that can help people with the most serious forms of COVID-19 recover in recent times, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says a number of vaccines are now in phase three clinical trials to prevent COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, disclosed this in a virtual news conference at the WHO Headquarters in Geneva, in Switzerland, Monday, August 3.

Tedros said: 鈥淲e all hope to have a number of effective vaccines that can help prevent people from infection.

鈥淗owever, there鈥檚 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.

鈥淭esting, isolating and treating patients, tracing and quarantining their contacts. Do it all.

鈥淚nform, empower and listen to communities. Do it all.

鈥淔or individuals, it鈥檚 about keeping physical distance, wearing a mask, cleaning hands regularly and coughing safely away from others. Do it all.鈥欌��

The Director-General of WHO, in his message to people and governments worldwide, said: 鈥淒o it all, and when it鈥檚 under control, keep going! Keep strengthening the health system.

鈥淜eep improving surveillance, contact tracing and ensure disrupted healthcare services are restarted as quickly as possible.

鈥淜eep safeguards and monitoring in place, because lifting restrictions too quickly can lead to resurgence.

鈥淜eep investing in the workforce and communicating and engaging communities.

鈥淲e have seen around the world, that it鈥檚 never too late to turn this pandemic around,鈥欌�� he said.

According to him, if we act together today, we can save lives, we can save livelihoods, if we do it all together.

Dr. Tedros added: 鈥淚鈥檓 pleased that the world has made progress in identifying treatments that can help people with the most serious forms of COVID-19 recover.

鈥淭he committee (WHO Emergency Committee) recommended that countries engage in the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, participate in relevant clinical trials, and prepare for safe and effective therapeutics and vaccine introduction,鈥欌�� Ghebreyesus said.

However, the global health body of the United Nations (UN) has warned that there might never be a 鈥渟ilver bullet鈥� for COVID-19.

Tedros, therefore, urged governments and citizens to focus on known basic steps to suppress the pandemic, such as testing, contact tracing, maintaining physical distance and wearing a mask.

鈥淗owever, there鈥檚 no silver bullet at the moment 鈥� and there might never be.

鈥淭he basics of public health鈥� are most effective for now鈥� wearing a mask in particular was sending a 鈥減owerful message to those around you that we are all in this together,鈥� said the Director-General.