CORONAVIRUS | World Health Organisation (WHO) director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the first vaccines for covid-19 could be ready in 18 months, reported Xinhua news agency.

In the meantime, he tweeted, "there's a lot we can do to prevent transmission and prepare for any further spread".

At a press briefing on Tuesday, he told reporters that while the world needs investment in research and development, we also need investment in stopping the covid-19 outbreak now, adding that the development of vaccine and therapeutic is an important part of the research agenda.

"We are not defenceless," he said. "There are many basic public health interventions that are available to us now, and which can prevent infections.

"We have to do everything today using the available weapons to fight this virus, while preparing for the long-term," the WHO chief said. — Bernama