Coronavirus crisis to get 'worse and worse and worse,' WHO chief warns

"Let me blunt, too many countries are headed in the wrong direction. The virus remains public enemy number one, but the actions of many governments and people do not reflect this. The only aim of the virus is to find people to infect," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said virtual during a press conference from WHO headquarters.

He said mixed messages from leaders are undermining the most critical ingredient of any response: trust. 

"If governments do not clearly communicate with their citizens and roll out a comprehensive strategy focused on suppressing transmission and saving lives and if the basics aren’t followed, there is only one way this pandemic is going to go. It’s going to get worse and worse and worse," he said.

The WHO chief noted that the epicentre of the virus remains in the Americas, where more than 50% of the world’s cases have been recorded.

He also warned that there will be no return to the old normal in the near future.

"I want to be straight with you: there will be no return to the “old normal” for the foreseeable future. But there is a roadmap to a situation where we can control the disease and get on with our lives," he said.

"But this is going to require three things: First, a focus on reducing mortality and suppressing transmission. Second, an empowered, engaged community that takes individual behaviour measures in the interest of each other. And third, we need strong government leadership and coordination of comprehensive strategies that are communicated clearly and consistently," he added.

The global infections tally stand nearly at 13 million including 570,375 deaths, according to John Hopkins University and Medicine live map of coronavirus.

The United States remains the worst-hit country which is followed by Brazil and India.