December 30th 2024.
It's been five years since the COVID-19 pandemic first emerged in Wuhan, and the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling on China to share data on the virus's origins. The impact of COVID-19 has been felt worldwide, with lockdowns, mandates, and restrictions causing significant changes in our daily lives. Melbourne, in particular, has become known as the most locked-down city in the world.
The pandemic has also caused a divide among people, and the world as we know it has been forever altered. The WHO was first alerted to the virus when the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission released a statement on their website regarding a new form of "viral pneumonia" in the city. From that moment on, COVID-19 has played a significant role in shaping our lives and the world around us.
The WHO wasted no time in responding to the situation. They activated emergency systems on January 1, 2020, and informed the world of the virus on January 4. In the following days, they published comprehensive guidance for countries and collaborated with partners to create the first laboratory test for SARS-CoV-2. Throughout the pandemic, the WHO has gathered and analyzed data, shared their findings, and worked closely with experts and health ministries from around the globe.
It wasn't until March that the WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic, which prompted immediate changes to international travel. The director-general of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed deep concern over the spread and severity of the virus, as well as the lack of action being taken. This led to bans on indoor gatherings, the release of social distancing guidelines, and restrictions on weddings and funerals. By March 26, the number of confirmed cases worldwide had surpassed 400,000, with over 20,000 deaths.
It wasn't until three years later, in collaboration with Australia's Chief Medical Officer, that the WHO declared COVID-19 was no longer a Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance. Although the threat of COVID-19 remains, the WHO believes it is time to shift from emergency mode to managing the virus alongside other infectious diseases.
One crucial step in understanding and preventing future pandemics is for China to share their data on the origins of COVID-19. The WHO stresses the importance of this, calling it both a moral and scientific imperative. Without transparency and cooperation among countries, we cannot adequately prepare for or prevent future epidemics. It is believed that the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan was the epicenter of the virus, and over the past five years, there have been an estimated 777 million cases worldwide, with 11.9 million of those occurring in Australia.
To stay informed on all the latest news and updates on COVID-19, you can download the 9NEWS app, available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play. Thank you for staying up to date and helping to keep our communities safe during these challenging times.
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