The director-general of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, delivered a powerful warning to world leaders to not politicize the response to COVID-19, saying doing so will lead to more deaths.<br /><br />"If we want to win, please quarantine politicizing COVID-19," Tedros said.<br /><br />Tedros made the stern comments at a WHO press briefing Wednesday in response to a question about recent criticisms made by U.S. President Donald Trump, defending the organization about what they've done since the first known case was brought to their attention 100 days ago.<br /><br />"So my advice, three things," the director-general said, "please, unity at the national level, no using COVID for political points. Second, honest solidarity at the global level. And honest leadership from the U.S. and China."<br /><br />Tedros also got personal, saying he received many criticisms and even death threats over the last three months, but cares more about humanity being insulted with politicizing a virus that has killed more than 60,000 people so far.<br /><br />“If you don’t want any more body bags, then you must refrain from politicizing it.”<br /><br />The WHO has been criticized for its decision not to call COVID-19 a pandemic until March 11, long after many experts suggested it should do so.
