The New Beverly Cinema is closed as the global outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., April 15, 2020. (Reuters/Lucy Nicholson)
The head of the World Health Organization lamented the U.S. decision to hold funding to the agency during the global COVID-19 pandemic, as the Trump administration complained of alleged mismanagement, cover-ups and mistakes during the early stages of the virus.
The Trump White House announced on Tuesday day it would halt the U.S. funding, claiming The WHO "failed its duty" and made a "disastrous decision" to oppose travel restrictions as the outbreak spread.
Meanwhile, countries and health experts were alarmed by Trump's and warned that it could jeopardize the fight against the pandemic.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus did not directly address the complaint from Trump, but said the WHO's performance would be reviewed as part of a "usual process" to ensure transparency and accountability.
"We regret the decision of the president of the United States to order a halt in funding to the World Health Organization," Tedros said. "WHO is reviewing the impact on out work of any withdrawal of U.S. funding and will work with out partners to fill any financial gaps we face."
The head of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Robert Redfield, however, said that the agency will continue its ties with the WHO.
"The CDC and The WHO have a had a long history of working together in multiple outbreaks around the world," Redfield said in an interview on ABC's "Good Morning America."
In the U.S. the confirmed cases of the virus hit 634,975, with deaths totaling at 27,940, according to Johns Hopkins University.
The U.S. President has focused his energy in reopening the U.S. economy in the aftermath of the COVID-19 shutdowns.
A plan is expected to be presented this Thursday, which plans for the first phase to begin by May 1.
But business leaders, union officials and other executives sent mixed messages to the president in how they hope to have the reopening. While they desperately want the economy back on its feet, they worried about the availability and access of coronavirus tests for workers to safely return to their jobs.
While Trump sent out positive tweets for the phone calls, the AP reports that company heads raised concerns about testing issues and were less than enthusiastic about the planned May 1 deadline.
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