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The World Health Organization (WHO) approved this December 1 to open a negotiation process aimed at a global agreement to face pandemics. The talks will begin in 2022 and the objective is to agree on preparedness and response strategies, given the lessons left by the Covid-19 and the management of the authorities in the face of the emergency.
An international treaty to prevent and control future pandemics. With this objective in mind, the World Health Organization (WHO) approved a roadmap to develop a legal instrument that prepares the planet to face health emergencies.
The opening of the negotiation process received unanimous support during a vote by the representatives of the 194 countries that make up the UN health body.
In the midst of the serious consequences of Covid-19, still two years after its appearance, the WHO points to an international agreement that includes prevention measures, early warnings, rapid risk assessment, exchange of data in a timely manner, genome sequencing emerging viruses, potential vaccines, and research-derived drugs. Everything to have a global response that helps mitigate the damage.
“The text before us is the product of extensive discussions, frank exchanges and commitments (…) Let us move forward together in solidarity to do the hard work that lies ahead,” said the Australian Ambassador, Sally Mansfield, who co-chaired the group. of work.
However, it would not be a process with short-term results. The talks are scheduled to start in 2022 and the pact is ready by May 2024.
The process to negotiate the pact opens at a time when alarms have been set off by the new South African variant, known as Ómicron, which once again prolongs the health emergency and rekindles restrictions.
The unequal distribution of vaccines between countries, especially for the less developed ones, is one of the main reasons why it has not yet been possible to put an end to the Covid-19 pandemic, experts point out.
“This momentous step represents our collective responsibility to work together to promote health security and make the global health system stronger and more responsive,” said the UN mission in Geneva on opening talks.
More than 262.22 million people have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 and at least 5.46 million have died since the virus emerged in China in late 2019.
According to the WHO, China has yet to share some of its first data that could help identify the origin of the virus.
Brazil reports the first cases in Latin America and more countries tighten measures
The Brazilian health regulator Anvisa reported that two citizens of their country tested positive for the Omicron variant of Covid-19, the first infections of this type reported in Latin America.
The health authority pointed out that it is a man who came to Sao Paulo from South Africa and his wife, who had not traveled. These diagnoses in the region add to concerns about the worldwide spread of the variant, which has led to the introduction of new restrictions in different countries.
As more countries join the SARS COV-2 B.1.1.529 detection list, others tighten measures.
While reporting its second positive diagnosis of the variant, Japan is suspending new reservations for all incoming flights. The Transport Ministry asked international airlines to stop accepting reservations for all air travel to Japan until the end of December.
For its part, Canada extended the travel ban for foreigners who have been to Nigeria, Malawi and Egypt in recent weeks. The three countries join the temporary veto established for those who come from seven other nations: South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini
In addition, in the United States, President Joe Biden plans stricter rules for international travelers. According to a Washington Post report, the Government will require, both its citizens and people of other nationalities who arrive at its airports, the requirement to present a diagnostic test for Covid-19 with negative results and carried out one day before the flight.
In addition, travelers could be re-examined within three to five days after arriving in the country, according to three federal health officials told the renowned US media.
With Reuters, AP and EFE
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