World Health Organisation (WHO) director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the end of COVID-19 pandemic is in sight.

Briefing the media on Wednesday the WHO chief said, "Last week, the number of weekly reported deaths from COVID-19 was the lowest since March 2020. We have never been in a better position to end the pandemic. We are not there yet, but the end is in sight".

The WHO chief maintained that it is not the time to relax or let the guard down, but rather the time for all affected countries and communities to keep doing what is working.

"A marathon runner does not stop when the finish line comes into view. She runs harder, with all the energy she has left. So must we. We can see the finish line. We’re in a winning position. But now is the worst time to stop running. Now is the time to run harder and make sure we cross the line and reap the rewards of all our hard work. If we don’t take this opportunity now, we run the risk of more variants, more deaths, more disruption, and more uncertainty. So let’s seize this opportunity," the director-general said.

The WHO also urged all countries to invest in vaccinating 100 per cent of the "most at-risk groups", including healthcare workers and older people, as the highest priority on the road to 70 per cent vaccine coverage;

"Keep testing and sequencing for SARS-CoV-2, and integrate surveillance and testing services with those for other respiratory diseases, including influenza. Make sure you have a system in place for giving patients the care that is right for them, and integrate care for COVID-19 into primary health care systems. Plan for surges of cases, and make sure you have the supplies, equipment and healthcare workers you will need. Maintain infection prevention and control precautions to protect health workers and non-COVID patients in health facilities and train health workers to identify and address misinformation, and develop high-quality health information in digital formats," the WHO chief added.