CORONAVIRUS INQUIRY CALLS
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Australia is among 116 countries backing a draft resolution for the World Health Organisation to examine the origins of coronavirus and the global response to the pandemic.
The resolution will be discussed at the 73rd meeting of the World Health Assembly this week.
KEY POINTS:
* It does not mention China.
* It calls on the WHO director-general to initiate an "impartial, independent and comprehensive" evaluation of the global response to COVID-19.
* This includes the effectiveness of the WHO's mechanisms and its actions and timelines in declaring the pandemic.
* The investigation will report back in a year's time with recommendations to improve global pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response capacity.
* It calls on the WHO and governments to deal with the proliferation of disinformation and misinformation, especially online, and malicious cyber-activities that undermine the public health response.
* It calls for "quality, efficacious, effective, accessible and affordable vaccines" to be made widely available once developed.
* It notes countries are deeply concerned by the morbidity and mortality caused by COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on mental health and wellbeing plus economies and society.
* It calls for an "intensification of co-operation and collaboration at all levels" to contain, control and mitigate the virus.
Australian Associated Press