World Health Organization estimates 10% of global population has contracted COVID-19

By Blue Telusma

·October 5, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic has had a huge impact on the world. (Getty Images)

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.

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.

A protester holds a sign reading ‘200K Dead Trump Kills USA’ at a march against ‘Death, Lies and Fascism’ on September 21, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. Demonstrators protested against President Donald Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic as the U.S. surpasses 204,000 deaths from the coronavirus. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

“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.

Travelers wearing face masks and face shields to protect against COVID-19 queue upon arriving at Godofredo P. Ramos Airport on September 30, 2020 in Malay, Aklan province, Philippines. The Philippine government has partially reopened the country to domestic travelers in a bid to stimulate the economy and revive a pandemic-hit tourism sector even as coronavirus cases continue to rise. The country surpassed 312,000 cases of COVID-19, with at least 5,504 deaths. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)

“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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