WHO: COVID-19 can be controlled; more Iranian officials succumb to the virus

GENEVA – The World Health Organization (WHO) stated yesterday that the spread of COVID-19, also called the coronavirus, around the world can be contained and controlled by a coordinated response from the world’s governments.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a statement at the organization’s headquarters in Geneva, called on every country to move quickly with clear determination and in a suitable manner to contain the spread of the virus.

Dr. Ghebreyesus also expressed his concern that some countries had not taken the issue seriously enough or had decided that nothing could be done.

He added that it is not a time to surrender, nor a time for excuses, but it is a time to exert effort.

In related news, on Thursday evening, Iranian media reported the death of Iranian diplomat Hussein Sheikh al-Islam who had been in a hospital in Tehran for days after being infected with Coronavirus.

It was also reported that “Faris”, Sheikh al-Islam, who is the International Affairs Assistant in the International Complex for Islamic Schools Rapprochement, died on Thursday evening in Masih Daneshore Hospital due to COVID-19.

The U.S. has offered Tehran its help in combating the outbreak of COVID-19 due to the lack of medical equipment, but Iran has refused, describing the offer of U.S. assistance as propaganda. Many in Iran have demanded accepting U.S. assistance and have advocated for Washington to at least partially lift its sanctions on Iran.