GENEVA (Reuters) - The World Health Organization (WHO) has worked non-stop since the novel coronavirus emerged, informing its 194 member states of its evolution and providing technical advice, its director-general said on Friday.


"WHO has worked day and night to coordinate the global response at all three levels of the organisation, providing technical advice, catalysing political solidarity, mobilising resources, coordinating resources and much more," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the WHO Executive Board.


"So far almost $800 million has been pledged or received towards WHO's appeal for COVID-19 programmes, leaving a gap of just over $900 million," Tedros told the 34-member board holding a virtual three-hour session.