An independent panel reviewing the global handling of the COVID-19 pandemic says Chinese officials could have applied public health measures more forcefully in January and criticised the World Health Organisation (WHO) for not declaring an international emergency until January 30.
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In an interim report, the panel of experts led by former New Zealand prime Minister Helen Clark and former Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said: "The global pandemic alert system is not fit for purpose", adding: "The World Health Organisation has been underpowered to do the job".
It called for a "global reset" and said it would provide recommendations in a final report to health ministers in May.
Australian Associated Press
