The world has never been in a better position to end the Covid-19 pandemic, the head of the World Health Organization said on Wednesday, urging countries to continue their efforts against the virus that has killed more than six million people.
"We're not there yet. But the end is in sight," WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters at a virtual news conference.
This marks the most optimistic statement by the WHO since it declared the coronavirus an international emergency in January 2020 and declared a pandemic in March 2020.
The spread of vaccines and treatments has helped curb the severity of the disease. Deaths from Covid-19 last week were the lowest since March 2020, the WHO reported. However, countries should look carefully at their policies and strengthen them for Covid-19 and future viruses, Tedros said.
He also called on states to vaccinate 100% of high-risk groups and continue testing for the virus.
