Send this page to someone via email

The head of the World Health Organization has warned that “the worst is yet ahead of us” in the coronavirus outbreak, raising new alarm bells about the pandemic just as many countries are beginning to ease restrictive measures.

WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus didn’t specify exactly why he believes that the outbreak could get worse. Some people, though, have pointed to the likely future spread of the illness through Africa, where health systems are far less developed.

So far, it has infected nearly 2.5 million people and killed over 166,000, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

Tedros alluded to the so-called Spanish flu in 1918 as a reference for the coronavirus outbreak.

Story continues below advertisement

2:00 Quebec hits its COVID-19 infection peak, with the majority of deaths coming from seniors homes Quebec hits its COVID-19 infection peak, with the majority of deaths coming from seniors homes

“It has a very dangerous combination and this is happening … like the 1918 flu that killed up to 100 million people,” he told reporters in Geneva.

[ Sign up for our Health IQ newsletter for the latest coronavirus updates ]

“But now we have technology, we can prevent that disaster, we can prevent that kind of crisis.”

3:32 Coronavirus around the world: April 21, 2020 Coronavirus around the world: April 21, 2020

WHO officials warned against countries lifting restrictions and lockdowns too quickly, saying that early data shows that relatively few people have been infected with the virus, meaning that many would be susceptible to a resurgence.

Story continues below advertisement

“Trust us. The worst is yet ahead of us,” Tedros said. “Let’s prevent this tragedy. It’s a virus that many people still don’t understand.”

1:50 Coronavirus outbreak: Protesters across U.S. demand end to COVID-19 lockdown Coronavirus outbreak: Protesters across U.S. demand end to COVID-19 lockdown