Ln May 12, a world summit to end the Covid-19 epidemic will be co-organized by the White House. Objective: Prepare for future health threats. This virtual meeting will be co-chaired by the United States, Germany, currently at the head of the G7, Indonesia, at the head of the G20, Senegal, at the head of the African Union, and Belize, at the head of Caricom (Caribbean countries).
“The summit will redouble our collective efforts to end the acute phase of the Covid-19 epidemic and prepare us for future health-related threats,” these countries said in a joint statement issued by Washington. It will be the second global summit on the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than six million people worldwide and disrupted the global economy, since it began to spread in December 2019.
Covid-19 death rate has dropped
US President Joe Biden held a similar summit on September 22, 2021, where he advocated for stronger vaccinations around the world. And today, although the death rate due to Covid-19 has decreased significantly around the world, the spread of the virus, particularly its Omicron variant, is preventing several countries from lifting restrictions, starting with China, where millions people are still confined.
The US government and those of the countries involved in this summit also want to maintain the sense of urgency in the face of the epidemic. “Ahead of the May 12 summit, we call on world leaders, members of civil society, non-governmental organizations and the private sector to make new commitments and deliver solutions to immunize the world’s population, save lives now and build better health security everywhere in the world”, adds this joint press release.
Preventing the risks of new epidemics
Although the Omicron variant is less dangerous, although more contagious, the countries behind this summit believe that it is essential to do everything to prevent new health catastrophes from taking the world by surprise. Covid-19 disease is far from endemic and can still cause “large epidemics”, World Health Organization officials said on Thursday.
