Earlier this week, the WHO warned that a new pandemic is imminent, though COVID still remains a deadly threat. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made his fear-mongering comments during a speech on Thursday at the 76th World Health Assembly.

On Monday, Ghebreyesus spoke just before Dr. Abdullah Assiri from Saudi Arabia. Assiri is the Co-chair on the Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations (WGIHR).

“The world however requires a different level of legal mandates such as the Pandemic Treaty, to navigate through a particular pandemic, should one occur, and it will,” said Assiri.

“Prioritizing actions that may restrict individual liberties; mandating and sharing of information; knowledge and resources; and most importantly, providing funds for pandemic control efforts, are all necessary during a pandemic.”