Switzerland: WHO renames coronavirus COVID-19, vaccines 18 months away

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SOT, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General: "First of all, we now have a name for the disease and it is COVID-19. I'll spell it: C-O-V-I-D hyphen one nine – COVID-19. CO, C-O stands for corona, as you know. V-I stands for virus, D for disease. So, COVID. Under agreed guidelines between WHO, the World Health Organization, the World Organisation for Animal Health and the Food and Agriculture Organisation, means WHO, OIE and FAO, of the United Nations, we had to find a name that did not refer to a geographical location, an animal, an individual or group of people, and which is also pronounceable and related to the disease. Having a name matters to prevent the use of other names that can be inaccurate or stigmatising. It also gives us a standard format to use for any future coronavirus outbreaks."
SOT, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General: "And a research roadmap is also important for organisations that fund research to have a clear sense of what the public health priorities are, so they can make investments that deliver the biggest public health impact. The development of vaccines and therapeutics is one important part of the research agenda – but it is not only one part. They will take time to develop, but in the meantime, we are not defenceless. There are many basic public health interventions that are available to us now, and which can prevent infections now. For instance, the first vaccine could be ready in 18 months, so we have to do everything today using the available weapons to fight this virus, while preparing for the long-term using the preparation for the vaccines."
SCRIPT
The World Health Organization (WHO) named coronavirus COVID-19, explaining that it was important to avoid "inaccurate or stigmatising" alternatives at a press conference in Geneva on Tuesday.
"We had to find a name that did not refer to a geographical location, an animal, an individual or group of people, and which is also pronounceable and related to the disease," said the WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
A first vaccine targeting coronavirus or COVID-19 will be available in 18 months, according to the WHO chief.
"We have to do everything today using the available weapons to fight this virus, while preparing for the long-term," added Tedros.
The death toll rose above 1,000 on Tuesday, with more than 42,000 infected in China alone.