The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the deadly coronavirus that causes COVID-19 may never go away. WHO emergencies director Dr Mike Ryan affirmed that even if a vaccine is found, controlling the virus will require a massive effort. Almost 300,000 people worldwide are reported to have died with coronavirus, and more than 4.3m cases recorded.
"It is important to put this on the table: this virus may become just another endemic virus in our communities, and this virus may never go away," Dr Ryan told the virtual press conference from Geneva adding he doesn't believe anyone can predict when this disease will disappear.
"HIV has not gone away, but we have come to terms with the virus," said he. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed it was still possible to control the virus, with effort. "The trajectory is in our hands, and it's everybody's business, and we should all contribute to stop this pandemic," he said.