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Monday, 17 May, 2021
Please find enclosed the link of the WHO Director-General's statement as well as other materials from the COVID-19 media briefing on 17 May:
- For the second week in a row there has been a global decline in cases and deaths from COVID-19. There’s a huge disconnect growing where in some countries with the highest vaccination rates, there are appears to be a mindset that the pandemic is over, while others are experiencing huge waves of infection. The pandemic is a long way from over.
- WHO has been responding to the surge in cases in India and other hotspots. Demand is currently so high that WHO needs immediate funding in order to sustain its technical and operational support to all countries – especially the most affected – involved in the present wave.
- I want to reiterate the statement that was released by Unicef overnight, which outlines the huge shortfall in vaccine supply to COVAX. The surge in cases has compromised global vaccine supply and there is already a shortfall of 190 million doses to COVAX by the end of June.
- This week marks UN Global Road Safety week and we are seeking to garner policy commitments at national and local levels to deliver 30 kilometer per hour speed limits in urban areas and generate local support for low-speed measures overall.
- Over the weekend, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel could potentially “unleash an uncontainable security and humanitarian crisis.” It is essential that the norms of international humanitarian law be fully respected.
Media briefing audio file (length 47mins):
http://terrance.who.int/mediacentre/presser/WHO-AUDIO_Emergencies_Coronavirus_Press_Conference_17MAY2021.mp3
Full video file (length 47mins):
https://who.canto.global/b/LST8Q
Video news edit (5mins 17secs):
https://who.canto.global/b/S16G9
Media assets and information on COVID-19
https://who.canto.global/v/coronavirus
Media contacts:
mediainquiries@who.int
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