WHO says China is speeding up the procedure for Covid-19 experts visit to Wuhan

The Director-General of the World Health Organisation Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has expressed disappointment in the delay in finalising the entry procedures for international doctors to Wuhan in China.

Speaking to the Press, he said that he was very disappointed with the news that Chinese officials have not yet finalised the necessary permissions for the members of the international scientific team to visit Wuhan.

These Covid-19 experts were supposed to visit China and investigate the reason for the breakout of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He learned on January 5 that Chinese officials have not yet finalised the necessary permissions for the team’s arrival in China.

"I am very disappointed with this news given that two members had already begun their journeys and others were not able to travel at the last minute," he added.

Dr. Ghebreyesus stated that he has been in contact with senior Chinese officials and has once again made clear that the mission is a priority for WHO and the international team.

“I have been assured that China is speeding up the internal procedure for the earliest possible deployment," Dr. Ghebreyesus added.

The WHO had earlier said that the purpose of the visit was not to hold the country responsible for the pandemic but to find out the reason for the breakout of the infectious disease and take measures to avoid it in the future.

Dr. Ghebreyesus informed the Press on January 5 that the arrangement for such a visit was "jointly developed between WHO, the Chinese government, and countries for which the team was meant to travel through on their way to Wuhan."