COVID-19: WHO calls for more 'systematic, exhaustive investigation' into Beijing cluster

The World Health Organization (WHO) suggested on Monday that more scientists from across the globe should join hands to further investigate the new disease clusters in Beijing and analyze what is driving the new infections in light of China's latest COVID-19 outbreak.   

"The answers lie in careful, systematic, exhaustive investigation of disease clusters to really look at what is happening in these situations and what is causing the amplification of the disease in the human context," Dr Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO's emergencies program, said during a press conference at the agency's Geneva headquarters.

He said now it is the time to investigate what's driving the new infections. "If we get that, we will build up a much better picture of the public health advice we need to give to our communities on what behaviors to avoid, what places to avoid, and what circumstances to avoid."