Fight to end virus pandemic takes place on UN's sidelines
While the coronavirus pandemic was not the main focus of the U.N. General Assembly, the conversations were still happening on the sidelines
By PIA SARKAR
Published - Sep 23, 2022, 06:42 PM ET
Last Updated - Jun 24, 2023, 07:26 AM EDT
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — In four days of fiery speeches over war, climate change and the threat of nuclear weapons, one issue felt like an afterthought during this year's U.N. General Assembly: the coronavirus pandemic.
Masks were often pulled below chins — or not worn at all — and any mention of COVID-19 by world leaders typically came at the tail-end of a long list of grievances.
But on the sidelines of the annual meeting, the pandemic was still very much part of the conversation.
On Thursday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres gathered with World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell and others to discuss equitable access to COVID vaccines, tests and treatments.
