WHO walks back on pandemic timeline and its credibility

TO properly judge statements on the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic coming from the World Health Organization (WHO), we believe it is prudent to always treat such statements with skepticism.

We are constrained to issue this cautionary note because, first, the WHO has lately taken time to publicize the fact that the Philippines has recorded the highest number of Covid-19 infections in the Western Pacific region and that we, Filipinos, must brace for crucial weeks ahead in the ongoing health crisis; and, second, WHO this week officially walked back several important statements that it had made concerning China’s handling of the viral outbreak. It has changed its official timeline on Covid-19.