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Coronavirus pandemic

WHO expects US delegation at session of its Executive Board’s meeting

On Wednesday, Joe Biden was sworn in as 46th President of the United States

GENEVA, January 20. /TASS/. The World Health Organization (WHO) expects the US delegation to attend the WHO Executive Board session on January 21, the organization’s spokesman Tarik Jasarevic told TASS on Wednesday.

"WHO looks forward to the participation of the delegation of the incoming US administration at the Executive Board meeting tomorrow. (Thursday, 21 January 2021)," he said. The WHO official was asked to comment on the plans of the transition team of the President elect Joe Biden to halt the withdrawal of the US from the WHO as well as Washington’s statements on participation in the coming session of the WHO’s Executive Board.

On Wednesday, Joe Biden was sworn in as 46th President of the United States.

Earlier the Biden-Harris transition website announced that Biden would take action to cease the previous Administration’s process of withdrawing from the World Health Organization. The transition team of the new US President stressed that the WHO is "an entity that is critical to coordinating the international response to COVID-19, advancing preparedness for future epidemics and pandemics, and improving the health of all people."

"The Biden-Harris Administration - with Dr. Tony Fauci as Head of Delegation - will participate in the WHO Executive Board meeting that is ongoing this week. Dr. Fauci will deliver remarks as Head of Delegation to the Executive Board on January 21. Once the United States resumes its engagement with the WHO, the Biden-Harris Administration will work with the WHO and our partners to strengthen and reform the organization, support the COVID-19 health and humanitarian response, and advance global health and health security," the transition team said.

The previous US administration informed the UN that the US would withdraw from WHO on July 6, 2021.

Tackling the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and preparing for new emergencies are among the key topics on the agenda of the 148th session of the WHO Executive Board, which opened on Monday.

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