Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 05 Jan 2021, 09:08 pm Print
UN website
Geneva: The World Health Organization has said China blocked the arrival of its team to probe the origin of the COVID-19 disease which has now spread across the world.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was quoted as saying by CNN that two scientists of the United Nations team had already left their home countries for Wuhan when they were told that Chinese officials had not approved the necessary permissions to enter the country.
Media briefing on #COVID19 with @DrTedros https://t.co/V5P0EfuMOJ
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) January 5, 2021
The WHO chief siad he was 'disappointed' with the development.
"I am very disappointed with this news," Tedros was quoted as saying by CNN during a news conference in Geneva on Tuesday.
He said: "I have been in contact with senior Chinese officials and I have once again made clear that the mission is a priority for WHO and the international team."
Tedros said WHO was "eager to get the mission underway as soon as possible" and that he had been given assurances that Beijing was speeding up the internal procedure for "the earliest possible deployment."
- More exposure to artificial, bright, outdoor nighttime light linked to higher stroke risk, reveal study
- New study finds social, environmental factors may raise risk of developing heart disease and stroke
- Report suggests declines in global fertility rates set to transform global population pattern by 2100
- WHO says nearly 7000 avoidable deaths reported in Europe due to COVID-19 pandemic
- New study shows intermittent fasting may increase chances of death due to cardiovascular disease