End of COVID-19 pandemic 'in sight': WHO.

UNITED NATIONS -- The world has never been in a better position to end the coronavirus pandemic, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has said, his most optimistic outlook yet on the years-long health crisis which has killed over six million people.

At the same time, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus cautioned that "we are not there yet."

"We have never been in a better position to end the pandemic," Tedros said, noting that the number of deaths from COVID-19 last week was the lowest it had been since March of 2020.

"If we don't take this opportunity now, we run the risk of more variants, more deaths, more disruption and more uncertainty, so let's seize this opportunity," WHO chief added.

Tedros urged governments to "take a hard look" at their policies and "strengthen them for COVID-19 and future pathogens with pandemic potential".

"We urge all countries to invest in vaccinating 100% of the most at-risk groups, including health workers and older people," he said and asked the countries to "keep testing and sequencing" for COVID-19 virus.

As the number of weekly reported deaths from COVID-19 plunged to its lowest since March 2020, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday that the end of the pandemic was now in sight.

He also warned that "if the world does not take the opportunity now, there is still a risk of more variants, deaths, disruption, and uncertainty."

'So, let's seize this opportunity', he urged, announcing that WHO was releasing six short policy briefs that outline the key actions that all governments must take now to 'finish the race'.

The policy briefs are a summary, based on the evidence and experience of the last 32 months, outlining what works best to save lives, protect health systems, and avoid social and economic disruption.

'[They] are an urgent call for governments to take a hard look at their policies and strengthen them for COVID-19 and future pathogens with pandemic potential,' Tedros said.

The documents, which are available online, include recommendations...