Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Axios
Axios
World

WHO to probe coronavirus origins in China as chief warns the "worst is yet to come"

World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Monday the coronavirus pandemic is "far from over" and "is actually speeding up," as countries continue to reopen economies.

By the numbers: More than 505,500 people have died from COVID-19 and over 10.3 million have tested positive for the virus worldwide as of Tuesday morning, per Johns Hopkins. More than 5.5 million have recovered.


  • The U.S. (2.59 million) and Brazil (1.36 million) continue to record by far the most new cases.

The big picture: Tedros said although some countries have made progress, "the worst is yet to come." He added a "lack of national unity and lack of global solidarity" was "helping the virus to spread."

  • President Trump announced in May plans to end funding for the WHO, citing "repeated missteps" during the pandemic and demanding it "demonstrate independence from China."
  • On Monday, Tedros said the WHO would send a team to China to investigate the outbreak's origins. "We can fight the virus better when we know everything about the virus, including how it started," he said.

Go deeper: CDC expert warns U.S. has "way too much virus" to contain outbreak

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.