Geneva: The World Health Organization's chief on Thursday said he hoped the U.S. would "reconsider its position" on withdrawing from the U.N. health agency, citing the need for "cooperation and solidarity" among the world's major powers to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.
"You cannot defeat this dangerous enemy in a divided world," said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
"Multilateral organizations can only (offer) support, like WHO. The leaders have always been countries, and especially the major ones who can bring the whole world together."
The Trump administration in early July formally notified the United Nations of its withdrawal from the World Health Organization.
However, the pullout won't take effect until next year, meaning it could be rescinded under a new administration or if circumstances change.
The withdrawal notification makes good on President Donald Trump's vow in late May to terminate U.S. participation in the WHO, which he has harshly criticized for its response to the coronavirus pandemic and accused of bowing to Chinese influence.
Read: Trump to snap ties with WHO
Also on Thursday, WHO's emergencies chief Dr. Mike Ryan urged the U.S. and other countries to forge a "new partnership" between government services and communities.
He said that individuals had a responsibility to physically distance, wear masks and practise hand hygiene, but should receive support if needing to enter quarantine.
Ryan added that local authorities needed a "rapid turnaround of testing, they need to be able to do case finding, contact tracing. We need a massive ramp up of the public health workforce in order to do that." (AP)
