As it happened: 'This virus may never go away', says WHO - BBC News
The World Health Organization suggests people may have to come to terms with it, as they have with HIV.
Lockdown measures have been loosened in France Image caption: Lockdown measures have been loosened in France

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Covid-19 may be here to stay.

"This virus may become just another endemic virus in our communities and this virus may never go away," Michael Ryan, the WHO's emergencies director, told a virtual press conference in Geneva.

"HIV has not gone away - but we have come to terms with the virus."

He said that, without a vaccine, it could take years for the population to build up sufficient levels of immunity to the virus. There are many attempts being carried out around the world to develop a vaccine but experts say there is a risk that one may never be created.

Meanwhile, as countries across the globe start easing lockdown measures, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the process could trigger new waves of infections.

Ryan said there was lots of "magical thinking" surrounding countries opening back up. He added that there was a "long, long way to go" on the path to returning to normal.