At a press conference in Geneva, Dr Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO health emergencies program, warned on Wednesday that the disease could join the mix of viruses that kill people around the world each year,
"This virus may well become another endemic virus in our communities and this virus may never go away. HIV has not gone away," said Ryan. "I am not comparing the two diseases but I think it is important that we are realistic. I do not think anyone can predict when or if this disease will go away."
More than 4.3 million cases of the virus have been recorded worldwide, according to the latest count from Johns Hopkins University.
Several teams of scientists around the world are currently trying to develop a viable coronavirus vaccine.
"We might have a chance of eliminating this virus, but this vaccine will have to be available, it will have to be very effective, it will have to be available to everyone and we will have to use it," said Ryan. "This disease may or may not become a long-term problem."
WHO infectious disease epidemiologist Dr Maria Van Kerkhove took a more optimistic tone during Wednesday's briefing.
"The trajectory of this epidemic is in our hands," said Van Kerkhove. "The global community has come together to work in solidarity. We have seen countries in control of this virus. We have seen countries using public health measures."
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus echoed this sentiment, adding, "We must all help end this pandemic."
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