WHO chief congratulates Joe Biden, Kamala Harris

The WHO chief, whose UN agency has faced sharp criticism from the Trump administration over its alleged missteps and kowtowing to China as the pandemic arose, echoed comments from Biden in his speech on Saturday that now is a time for healing.

Geneva: The World Health Organization chief has urged the world to "re-imagine leadership built on mutual trust and mutual understanding" to end the COVID-19 pandemic, after congratulating President-elect Joe Biden and Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris on their US election victory.

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WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, whose organization is facing a US walkout ordered by the Trump administration, urged new thinking about investment in "shared priorities" and called for tearing down "our silos" in favour of coordinated efforts.

"It's time for the world to heal from the ravages of this pandemic and the geopolitical divisions that only drive us further into the chasm of unhealthy, unsafe and unfair future," Tedros said. "It's time to forge a new era of cooperation that puts health and well-being at the centre of our common future.'

The WHO chief spoke in an address to its week-long annual assembly in Geneva, which opened Monday.

Tedros spoke by videoconference from his home, where he has been in self-quarantine after coming into contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19.

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Tedros has said he is feeling well, and WHO has said that he has not been tested for the virus.

In keeping with WHO protocols, he hasn't been advised to undergo a test as long as he's not showing any symptoms.

AP