World Health Organization estimates 10% of global population has contracted COVID-19
WHO announced an alarming new statistic about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic
As the public continues to reel from the news that the president of the United States has tested positive for the coronavirus, Dr. Michael Ryan, the executive director of the World Health Organization (WHO)’s health emergency program, has come forward to share an alarming new statistic.
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According to The Associated Press, on Monday, Ryan revealed that the most recent estimates indicate a significant percentage of the world’s population may have already been infected by the coronavirus this year.
“The disease continues to spread. It is on the rise in many parts of the world,” Ryan explained during a special session of the organization’s executive board. “Our current best estimates tell us that about 10% of the global population may have been infected by this virus.”
He also pointed out that the stats vary from urban to rural areas, and between different groups, but that ultimately “the vast majority of the world remains at risk.”
One of those groups whose cases stand out amongst the pack is Black Americans who have been disproportionately affected by the virus, both medically and financially.
To put what 10% of the population looks like in clearer focus – what WHO is saying is that over 760 million people based on a current world population of about 7.6 billion have COVID-19. This by far exceeds the 35 million confirmed cases that were originally tallied by WHO and Johns Hopkins University. But to be fair, experts have always said that they knew the number of confirmed cases being reported would grossly undercount the true number of people impacted.
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“What we have learned in every region of the world is that with strong leadership, clear and comprehensive strategies, consistent communication, and engaged, empowered and enabled population, it’s never too late,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“Every situation can be turned around — and hard-won gains can be easily lost.”
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