South Africa is among a group of countries that have committed to being part of a series of smaller vaccine trials testing different methods and treatments to combat COVID-19, as the first US-led trials begin.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says the development of a vaccine could take many months, but other treatments may be developed much quicker.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says the multinational series of smaller trials of treatments is designed to generate the data needed to show which are the most effective
He adds that this will be called the Solidarity Trial and he is certain more countries will join the initiative.
WHO is organising the study in which some of those untested treatments are compared with each other.
Other countries that have already confirmed that they will join the Solidarity Trial are Argentina, Bahrain, Canada, France, Iran, Norway, Spain, Switzerland and Thailand.
South Africa currently has 116 confirmed infections.
Loading…
Today we met virtually with business leaders convened by @wef. My colleagues & I encouraged the private sector to help speed the #COVID19 response by committing specific expertise. We also hope they will contribute through the Solidarity Response Fund https://t.co/mRCMYYtASW. pic.twitter.com/QYt6lF44DR
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) March 18, 2020
If you are asked to be in quarantine:
•During times of stress, pay attention to your own needs & feelings
•Engage in healthy activities that you enjoy & find relaxing
•Exercise regularly, keep regular sleep routines & eat healthy food.
•Keep things in perspective#COVID19 pic.twitter.com/W5SWCkkAZS— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 18, 2020