The World Isn’t Ready for Global Coronavirus Outbreak: WHO

The World Health Organization’s emergency director for the Eastern Mediterranean on Thursday said the world was not ready for a global outbreak.

“There’s a general recognition that globally that we’re not ready for the big outbreaks. And we’re really playing catch up right now, we’re really trying to accelerate our preparedness,” said Rick Brennan. “The international community, and individual governments, have not invested adequately in disease preparedness.” #Coronavirus #CoronavirusOutbreak #ChinaVirus

He warned the outbreak would have particularly dire consequences in countries with weakened or war-battered health care systems, such as Syria and Yemen.

Iran has emerged as a major global focal point for the disease, with 250 total cases, the highest number in the region. Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have also seen a recent uptick.

Brennan described Iran’s 250 cases as “a substantial underestimate,” given the country’s limited detection capacities, which explains the relatively high death rate.

“We expect in the coming days that the numbers will increase substantially,” Brennan said, as Iran ramps up testing in new labs.

The fight to contain the virus has grown increasingly urgent, as health officials across Europe and the Middle East reported caseloads of infected people on Thursday.

In response, Saudi Arabia took the extraordinary step of suspending the umrah, the minor Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina that draws millions every year.

Brennan welcomed the kingdom’s move, saying that WHO “expects that this will give Saudi Arabia a chance to really strengthen their own disease control measures for the moment.”

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/2TwO8Gm

QUICKTAKE ON SOCIAL:
Follow QuickTake on Twitter: twitter.com/quicktake
Like QuickTake on Facebook: facebook.com/quicktake
Follow QuickTake on Instagram: instagram.com/quicktake
Subscribe to our newsletter: https://bit.ly/2FJ0oQZ
Email us at quicktakenews@gmail.com

QuickTake by Bloomberg is a global news network delivering up-to-the-minute analysis on the biggest news, trends and ideas for a new generation of leaders.


In This Story: Bahrain

Bahrain, officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, is a sovereign state in the Persian Gulf. The island nation comprises a small archipelago made up of 40 natural islands and an additional 51 artificial islands, centered around Bahrain Island which makes up around 83 percent of the country’s landmass.

The country is situated between the Qatari peninsula and the north eastern coast of Saudi Arabia to which it is connected by the 25-kilometre (16 mi) King Fahd Causeway. According to the 2010 census, Bahrain’s population is over 1.2 million, of which around half are non-nationals. The capital and largest city is Manama.

2 Recent Items: Bahrain

Royal navy warships collide off coast of bahrain 1

Royal Navy warships collide off coast of Bahrain

How 16-year-old Luke Littler is changing the face of darts

In This Story: Iran

Iran, also called Persia, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a country in Western Asia. Its central location in Eurasia and proximity to the Strait of Hormuz give it significant geostrategic importance. Tehran is the capital and largest city.

Iran is home to one of the world’s oldest civilizations, beginning with the formation of the Elamite kingdoms in the fourth millennium BC. The Iranian Revolution established the current Islamic Republic in 1979.

Iran’s political system combines elements of a presidential democracy and an Islamic theocracy. Iran is a founding member of the UN, ECO, OIC, and OPEC. It is a major regional and middle power and has large reserves of fossil fuels — including the world’s largest natural gas supply and the third largest proven oil reserves.

The country’s rich cultural legacy is reflected in part by its 22 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Historically a multi-ethnic country, Iran remains a pluralistic society comprising numerous ethnic, linguistic, and religious groups, the largest being Persians, Azeris, Kurds, Mazandaranis and Lurs.

4 Recent Items: Iran

5 Iranian Revolutionary Guards killed in Israeli strike on Damascus, state media reports

Iran Revolutionary Guards reportedly killed in airstrike in Damascus | DW News

Israeli strike kills Iranian military advisers in Syria

Nightly News Full Broadcast – Jan. 19

In This Story: Kuwait

Kuwait, officially the State of Kuwait, is a country in Western Asia. As of 2016, Kuwait has a population of 4.5 million people: 1.3 million are Kuwaitis and 3.2 million are expatriates. Expatriates account for approximately 70% of the population.

Oil reserves were discovered in commercial quantities in 1938. Kuwait is a non-NATO ally of the United States. Kuwait is also a major ally of ASEAN, while maintaining a very strong relationship with China.

Kuwait is a constitutional sovereign state with a semi-democratic political system. Kuwait has a World Bank high-income economy backed by the world’s sixth largest oil reserves. The Kuwaiti dinar is the highest valued currency in the world.

2 Recent Items: Kuwait

Israeli bombardment of Rafah: At least 20 people killed in airstrikes on southern Gaza

Strike in Rafah: Israeli attack near Kuwait hospital kills 20

In This Story: Mediterranean

The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant.

2 Recent Items: Mediterranean

On board a U.S. Navy destroyer stationed in the Mediterranean Sea

Tod’s Pre-Spring 2024 advertising Campaign – A MEDITERRANEAN STORY

In This Story: Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is a country in Western Asia constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula.

Saudi Arabia also has one of the world’s youngest populations, with approximately 50 percent of its population of 34.2 million being under 25 years old.

2 Recent Items: Saudi Arabia

Red Sea tensions delay oil shipments from Saudi Arabia, Iraq

U.S. and Saudi Arabia push for a Gaza peace pact with Israel

In This Story: Syria

Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon to the southwest, the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest.

2 Recent Items: Syria

5 Iranian Revolutionary Guards killed in Israeli strike on Damascus, state media reports

Iran Revolutionary Guards reportedly killed in airstrike in Damascus | DW News

In This Story: United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates, sometimes simply called the Emirates, is a sovereign state in Western Asia located at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It borders Oman and Saudi Arabia, and has maritime borders in the Persian Gulf with Qatar and Iran.

2 Recent Items: United Arab Emirates

Palestine boost Asian Cup knockout hopes after draw with UAE

Palestinian joy at the AFC Asian Cup | The Take

Leave a Comment

We don't require your email address, or your name, for anyone to leave a comment. If you do add an email address, you may be notified if there are replies to your comment - we won't use it for any other purpose. Please make respectful comments, which add value, and avoid personal attacks on others. Links are not allowed in comments - 99% of spam comments, attempt to post links. Please describe where people may find additional information - for example "visit the UN website" or "search Google for..." rather than posting a link. Comments failing to adhere to these guidelines will not be published.