The coronavirus pandemic is accelerating, says the WHO -

The coronavirus pandemic that’s spread to nearly every country in the world is spreading at a quicker rate than ever before, the World Health Organization said on Monday, as global cases eclipsed 350,000 and deaths soared past 15,000.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press conference from Geneva:

“The pandemic is accelerating,”

“It took 67 days from the first reported case to reach 100,000 cases, 11 days for second 100,000 cases, and just four days for the third 100,000 cases.”

“We need unity among the G20 countries who have more than 80% of the global GDP,” he said.

“If we don’t prioritize protecting health workers, many people will die because the health worker who could have saved their lives is sick.”

The World Health Organization had already been requesting protective gear from suppliers, in order to prioritise sending that equipment to those regions who have been most heavily affected by the coronavirus pandemic. They have also discouraged the stockpiling of protective gear by the general public.

Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO’s emergencies program, said on Friday:

“Take one look at what’s happening in some health systems around the world. Look at the intensive care units completely overwhelmed. Doctors and nurses utterly exhausted,”

“This is not normal. This isn’t just a bad flu season.”

Last week, health officials urged parent to stay prepared in the case of their children contracting COVID-19, after a new study has shown severe symptoms developing in babies and very young children.

This new study, that was published in the journal Pediatrics, looked at 2,143 cases of children who were confirmed or suspected to have contracted COVID-19, that were reported to the Chinese Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Over 90% of all of the cases were asymptomatic, mild or moderate cases. However, nearly 6% of the children’s cases were severe or critical, compared with 18.5% for adults.