WHO Holds Global Forum to Address Novel Coronavirus Response

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] The World Health Organization (WHO) held a global forum on the 11th to devise countermeasures as the novel coronavirus infection, which began in China, spread worldwide.

The 'Global Research and Innovation Forum,' which opened at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, for a two-day schedule, was attended by over 400 experts, scientists, and health officials. The goals include gathering information to minimize the impact of the novel coronavirus and prioritizing research for vaccine and pharmaceutical production.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, "We do not have a vaccine or proven treatment to prevent infection," adding, "There are many tasks to understand for treating the novel coronavirus, such as the virus's origin, transmission routes, infectious period, and the best management methods for severe patients. WHO is striving for equitable access to health products and will ensure that equitable access becomes a part of all research and development efforts," he added.

Meanwhile, according to WHO, as of 6 a.m. that day, the number of deaths from the novel coronavirus infection in China was 1,017, with 42,708 confirmed cases. Outside China, 24 countries reported 1 death and 393 confirmed cases.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.