The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that populations of the world would need to learn to live with COVID-19 for the fact that it could become endemic in the same way as HIV.
It said that just as the HIV virus has continued to live in the world, the Coronavirus will also not leave as it would continue to abide in our various communities , but we may not contact it if our level of hygiene is high and if we take all necessary precautions and guidelines as advised by health authorities.
“HIV has not gone away but we have come to terms with the virus,” WHO emergencies expert, Mike Ryan revealed during an online briefing.
“I think it is important we are realistic and I don’t think anyone can predict when this disease will disappear. I think there are no promises in this and there are no dates. This disease may settle into a long problem, or it may not be,” he added.
More than 100 potential vaccines are being developed, including several in clinical trials, but experts have underscored the difficulties of finding ones effective against coronavirus.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “The trajectory is in our hands, and it’s everybody’s business and we should all contribute to stop this pandemic.
“Many countries would like to get out of the different measures but our recommendation is still the alert at any country should be at the highest level possible.”
“It is important to put this on the table: this virus may become just another endemic virus in our communities, and this virus may never go away.
