Photograph — Voice of America

As coronavirus hits a 13 million global infection mark with 1 million recorded within 5 days on Monday, July 13, 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared that there would be no return to the “old normal” any time soon. This statement was made by WHO Chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus via a virtual briefing from the headquarters in Geneva.

According to Ghebreyesus, the world is unlikely to return to its former state especially if preventive measures are neglected. In a candid statement, WHO chief said that “too many countries are headed in the wrong direction, the virus remains public enemy number one.”

 “If basics are not followed, the only way this pandemic is going to go, it is going to get worse and worse and worse. But it does not have to be this way,” he further added.

As of July 14, 2020, by 09:30 GMT, the number of cases in Africa had reached 611,441, with 305,127 recoveries and 13,467 deaths. 

In June, WHO warned against a spike in infections across Africa. This is because the continent began to record a rise in local transmission as the disease travelled from capital cities and suburbs to rural areas where adequate health amenities are lacking.

According to WHO, while it took 98 days for the continent to record 100,000 cases, it took it only 18 days to hit 200,000 cases, an indication of how fast the disease is spreading in the region.

Since the virus was declared a global pandemic over 4 months ago, scientists have been working tirelessly to find a cure. So far, most governments in the world have been forced to relax preventive measures, like the stiff lockdowns and movement restrictions, in order to resume economic activities.

This is due to the negative impacts of the coronavirus on the global economy which has forced the economy of many countries into a recession. However, WHO has further warned that millions more could die if a second wave of the pandemic resurfaces with cooler temperatures in September.

Coronavirus has claimed over half a million lives with America topping the charts on both the infection and death rates. 

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