The United States, under the Trump’s administration has announced to the Congress that the nation has formally withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO), which is seeking to organize an international response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The news came at a time when the number of fatalities from the pandemic in the country has rose above 130,000, with the U.S on the cusp of having 3 million infections.
President Donald Trump has earlier announced the move in May after an incessant accusation that the health body of the United Nations is shielding China, and being sentimental in protecting other nations from the virus.
Senator Robert Mendendez (D-N.J.), who chairs the Foreign Relations Committee, announced the notification on the microblogging platform, Twitter, while blasting the decision as shortsighted and risky.
“Congress received notification that President of the United States (POTUS) officially withdrew the U.S. from the @WHO in the midst of a pandemic. To call Trump’s response to COVID chaotic & incoherent doesn’t do it justice. This won’t protect American lives or interests—it leaves Americans sick & America alone,” he wrote.
It was also gathered that the the move would take effect in July 2021, which in theory would give the next emerging president (Donald Trump or Democratic Joe Biden) the ample time to rescind and roll back the decision.
Trump impugned the WHO recently, as he said the organization failed to make ‘greatly needed reforms,’ and iterates the U.S. intention to divert the funds to other global health organizations.
The move drew pushback even from prominent Republicans, who have called out some missteps by the WHO, but nevertheless saw the benefit in having a global health group tending to issues like COVID-19, Malaria, and Ebola.
U.S. officials have hammered WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus for praising China for its ‘transparency’ early in the outbreak.
Trump once again referred to the coronavirus as the ‘horrible China virus’ on Tuesday.
