The Director General of the World Health Organization says recent global COVID-19 numbers shows that the virus can be controlled, even with new variants in circulation, by using the same proven public health measures. Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus says for the third week in a row the number of new cases of COVID-19 reported globally fell last week.

Dr. Ghebreyesus urged continued diligence saying that over the past year there have been moments in almost all countries when COVID-19 cases declined and governments opened up to quickly and individuals let down their guard, only for the virus to come back.

He says as vaccines are rolled out it is vital that everyone continues to take necessary precautions to keep themselves and each other safe.

At the W-H-O briefing last Friday, officials addressed concerns over the European Union banning the export of vaccine. Dr.Ghebreyesus said if vaccines are hoarded and not shared there will be three major problems, “It will be a catastrophic moral failure and two it keeps the pandemic burning and three very slow global economy recovery.”