Trump Slams WHO over Coronavirus Response

By Staff, Agencies

US President Donald Trump lashed out at the World Health Organization (WHO) Tuesday, condemning its response to the COVID-19 coronavirus.

In a tweet, Trump claimed that the WHO is cozying up with Beijing, hinting he could review US contributions into its budget, and issuing advice against barring travels to and from China.

Last week, the WHO came under fire for similar reasons as Japan's Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso said the body should be renamed the "Chinese Health Organization," accusing it of political bias.

He said that the organization failed to provide an adequate assessment of the situation in China and issue recommendations accordingly.

In early February, the WHO spoke against travel bans, with its head warning that "such restrictions can have the effect of increasing fear and stigma, with little public health benefit."

Relatively, WHO chief Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised China’s transparency in responding to the crisis.

However, the past few weeks saw China's official tallies questioned across the world, with and a number of reports suggesting Beijing, which has officially reported some 82,000 cases, could be hiding the real figures.