Edit: Ahmed Al-Kumi

An official of the World Health Organization (WHO) said today that the corona virus epidemic will not be completely eradicated, but society has a chance to end the public health emergency in 2022.

Michael Ryan, Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergency Programme, said, speaking at the Davos World Economic Forum today, which is being held by default this year.

Ryan added before the video panel: "We will not end the virus this year, we will never eliminate the virus, what we can end is a public health emergency."

The Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergency Programme explained: "Death, hospital treatment, the disturbances that caused the tragedy, not the virus itself, the virus is just a means," yet some optimism was expressed that this year could mark a turning point in the epidemic.

There was an opportunity to end the public health emergency this year, and that could only be done by addressing long-term inequalities in various areas of society such as equitable access to vaccines and health care.