The World Health Organization said Monday it had completed the groundwork in China to probe the origins of the new coronavirus -- as it warned there might never be a "silver bullet" for COVID-19.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged governments and citizens to focus on known basic steps to suppress the pandemic, such as testing, contact tracing, maintaining physical distance and wearing a mask.
"We all hope to have a number of effective vaccines that can help prevent people from infection," Tedros told a virtual press conference.
"However, there's no silver bullet at the moment -- and there might never be.
"The basics of public health" are most effective for now, Tedros added, saying that wearing a mask in particular was sending a "powerful message to those around you that we are all in this together".
Infections are surging in some countries around the world, but Tedros insisted that however bad the situation was, past examples such as South Korea showed it could be turned around.
"When leaders step up and work intensely with their populations, this disease can be brought under control," he said.
