This Is How We Can End COVID-19, According To The World Health Organization

The fight against the coronavirus pandemic is far from over. As of Sunday, August 23, the total number of confirmed cases has surpassed 23 million on a global scale and more than 800,000 of which have died from the disease. In the Philippines, the record is already at 197,164 as of this writing—with 61,730 active cases, 132,042 recoveries, and 3,010 deaths.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 170 groups of researchers have been conducting COVID-19 vaccine trials in different parts of the world. While Russia has granted regulatory approval after a two month period of human testing and China has received approval for human testing for a vaccine developed in insect cells, it’s still indefinite as to when one will finally be proven 100% effective, massively produced, and rolled out to various countries.

So, now more than ever, it’s important to be reminded of how each of us should take active responsibility in curbing the spread of infection. Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, COVID-19 Technical Lead of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, couldn’t have said it any better: There are so many things we can do to protect ourselves and others from this virus.

A high level of awareness is paramount at a time like this.

“Be informed about what this virus is, where the virus is circulating especially in the areas where you live, the areas where you work, the areas that you want to travel in—all of this is important,” Kerkhove stressed.

Make good decisions.

One of the best ways to contribute to this effort is to stay at home if we can. “I know there are a lot of things that we want to be doing right now,” she added, “but there aren’t necessarily a lot of things that we need to be doing right now.”

Follow health and safety protocols strictly.

During essential runs, we need to make it a point to wear a mask, keep our hands clean, and practice social distancing.

Everyone has a duty in the fight against the current pandemic. After all, it’s not just about us and our loved ones—it’s also about the most vulnerable who may likewise get infected by COVID-19. In a post by another doctor Trishan Panch, Chief Medical Officer at Wellframe and board member at Health Care For All, he explained the consequences for the marginalized (immigrants, homeless, and those with long-term mental health conditions among others). “These populations, as ever, have been largely forgotten in the broader discourse around coronavirus,” he said. “Many people in these populations have difficulty accessing health care and have low levels of trust in the health care system. It is these people who more than ever need our support.”