Experts at the Independent Coronavirus Fighting Commission have compared the COVID-19 pandemic to the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. They are quoted by Reuters.
The chairman of the commission, former Prime Minister of New Zealand Helen Clark, believes the virus is the new Chernobyl, as the pandemic could accelerate the reform needed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The same thing happened after the accident, which actually caused changes in the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Experts also believe that WHO is underfunded, which leaves it lacking resources to effectively respond to outbreaks.
On January 14, WHO experts arrived in China to study the origin of the coronavirus. It was reported that the arrivals need to go through a 14-day quarantine, at which time they will consult with Chinese video communication specialists.
An outbreak of pneumonia COVID-19 caused by a new type of virus was first recorded at the end of 2019 in Wuhan, China. On March 11, 2020, WHO announced that the situation could be characterized as a pandemic.
