Panel probing global pandemic response says the worst is 'yet to come'
An independent panel backed by the World Health Organization and tasked with investigating the global response to the coronavirus pandemic warned in a new report released late Monday that "the worst of the pandemic and its impact are yet to come."
The panel put some blame on China -- where the novel coronavirus first emerged in Wuhan -- saying that Chinese authorities could have applied public health measures “more forcefully” in January 2020.
![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/Health/covid-who-china-02-gty-iwb-210119_1611076437566_hpEmbed_20x13_992.jpg)
The panel said the WHO as well as national and local authorities could have issued more timely and stronger warnings on the potential for human-to-human transmission.
The panel also said that by the end of January 2020, all countries with a likely case should have implemented public health containment measures, but claimed only a minority of countries took full advantage of the information available.
The panel said its observations should be regarded as provisional because the investigations aren't complete and the pandemic is continuing to evolve.
ABC News’ Christine Theodorou contributed to this report.