WHO commits to global COVID-19 response evaluation News
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WHO commits to global COVID-19 response evaluation

Delegates to the first ever virtual World Health Assembly decided Tuesday to adopt a resolution co-sponsored by more than 130 countries to increase efforts to combat the COVID-19 outbreak and conduct a complete assessment of the global response to the pandemic.

The resolution was adopted to increase efforts to combat the virus, including greater measures for equitably distributing health technologies and products and intensifying steps to control the spread of the virus. The assessment of the global response to the outbreak would be independently conducted and would include a review of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) response.

WHO reported that the ministers of health from almost every country in the world shared the message that “global unity is the most powerful tool to combat the outbreak.” However, US President Donald Trump threatened only a day earlier to end US funding for WHO for good, criticizing the organization and alleging that it has an “alarming lack of independence from the People’s Republic of China.” Considering these threats, the cooperation of the US with this resolution seems uncertain.

The World Health Assembly is scheduled to convene again later this year.

For more on COVID-19, see our special coverage.