21 January 2025
23:08
5.2 magnitude earthquake strikes western Turkey
22:56
Total of 7.81% of voters cast their ballots early in Belarus election
22:25 Conflict in Syria
French court issues new arrest warrant for ex-Syrian president Assad — media
22:03
West's illegal actions set stage for terrorism in Africa — Russian envoy to UN
21:44
Four wounded in stabbing attack in Tel Aviv — portal
21:32 Middle East conflict
One of Hezbollah leaders dies in armed attack in Western Beqaa
21:13
Western countries using ‘hidden veto’ to block UNSC resolutions — Russian mission
21:11
Death toll in Turkish hotel fire climbs to 76 — interior minister
20:43 Middle East conflict
Israel Defense Forces claims killing 20,000 Hamas militants in 15 months
20:16 Conflict in Syria
Syria terminates Tartus port management contract with Russian company
19:50
Parade of planets to be visible from inside Russia until mid-March — scientists
19:30
Slovak PM calls for postponing Kiev’s NATO membership for peace talks
19:05 Ukraine crisis
US wants lasting peace in Ukraine — top diplomat
19:03 Military operation in Ukraine
Kadyrov says drones destroyed Ukrainian firing positions equipped with Starlink
18:58
Russia to continue supporting Cuba — Russian diplomat
18:48 Coronavirus pandemic
Von der Leyen’s vaccine purchase transparency case to continue — plaintiff
18:47
Melania Trump captures global mood with inauguration outfit — fashion expert
18:46 Military operation in Ukraine
Gas pipeline damaged in Kakhovka after Ukrainian attack
18:44 Ukraine crisis
Orban says Ukraine shouldn’t dictate terms to Hungary, Slovakia
18:30 Coronavirus pandemic
Belgian court throws out von der Leyen’s vaccine transparency case
18:20
Talks between Putin, Xi Jinping important as US seeks to divide them — analyst
18:20 Energy crisis in Europe
Europe will have to boost LNG purchases in 2025, IEA says
18:19
Trump’s Greenland statements could ignite conflict inside NATO — expert
18:09
Trump aims at long-term deterrence of Russia — nominee
17:40 Middle East conflict
Gaza officials peg damage from hostilities at $38 bln
17:38
Global oil market can maintain balance — expert
17:28 Middle East conflict
Death toll from Israeli strikes on Gaza Strip exceeds 47,100 — health ministry
17:22
Russia’s LNG output up by 8% in 2024, exports can be cut by 5% in 2025 — IEA
17:21 Middle East conflict
Death toll from Israel’s operation in Jenin in West Bank up to 8
17:20 Middle East conflict
Putin commends Egypt’s role in mediating Israel-Hamas deal
17:17 Energy crisis in Europe
IEA does not expect resumption of Russian gas transit to Europe via Ukraine in 2025
17:14
Iran to be Trump’s biggest test in Middle East — portal
17:12
Drunken American goes on rampage in Moscow cafe over Trump’s inauguration
17:11 Ukraine crisis
Hungary, Slovakia demand from Ukraine to find gas transit solution — Orban
17:10 Tourism
Over two mln tourists travel between Russia, China in 2024
17:07
Putin, El-Sisi discussed construction of nuclear power plant — Kremlin
17:05 Military operation in Ukraine
Kursk governor condemns Ukraine's killing of civilians in local village as genocide
17:00 Ukraine crisis
Slovakia not involved in Ukraine conflict, wants peace — Fico
16:44
IEA reports 7% increase in gas output in Russia in 2024, raised its estimate for 2025
16:33
Russia’s LNG exports to Europe up by 17% in 2024 — IEA
All news
30 Apr 2020, 11:39

World unable to avoid second wave of COVID-19 — WHO envoy

In the official's opinion, it is essential to use the experience of the first wave to prevent a dramatic outbreak of the infection during the second one

MOSCOW, April 30. /TASS/. Another wave of COVID-19 is unavoidable, because a majority of the population has no immunity to it, the representative of the World Health Organization to Russia, Melita Vujnovic, told TASS in an interview.

"This is an absolutely new virus and only a small group of the population has immunity against it. Until the moment we have devised a set of special preventive measures and have a vaccine we will be unable to say that we can prevent a second wave," Vujnovic said.

In her opinion it is essential to use the experience of the first wave to prevent a dramatic outbreak of the infection during the second one.

"We expect that the healthcare system and the system of sanitary and epidemiological supervision will be working together to identify minor hotbeds and to track down the infected patients’ contacts," Vujnovic said.

In particular, she emphasized the need for restricting contacts. In her opinion, if this knowledge is used properly, "the infection rate will be kept at a low level until it is clear how immunity is formed."

In late December 2019, Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus — named COVID-19 by the WHO — have been reported in every corner of the globe, including Russia.

On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.