China reported the first cases of a pneumonia of unknown cause in Wuhan, central China, to the WHO on Dec. 31 and closed a market where the novel coronavirus is believed to have emerged. WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said in an emailed reply to Reuters inquiry that the international team was working on logistical arrangements to travel to China as soon as possible. A Western diplomat said that the team was expected to leave in early January, ahead of WHO's executive board opening on Jan. 18, adding: "There is strong pressure on China and on WHO." One senior Western diplomat complained of a lack of transparency while experts were not on the ground talking to clinicians and researchers or inspecting lab samples. But another Western diplomat said that the mission was on a "good footing" and that the WHO had to accept China's terms to secure access.

Source: bd News24 December 16, 2020 17:03 UTC