A COVID-19 testing site in Sichuan province, China (Photo: Xinhua/ VNA)

The WHO chief said the weekly number of new cases and deaths from COVID-19 has fallen to the lowest level since March 2020 and urged the world to take the opportunity to end the pandemic.

He insisted that now is the best opportunity to end the pandemic and the goal is completely within reach. He urged countries to keep working to control the virus, adding that although there will be future waves of infection, the world has preventive tools like vaccines and drugs to control the disease before it turns severe.

Tedros said that, despite the drop in reported monkeypox cases, the world should not let down its guard.