A US court has dismissed a lawsuit seeking damages from the World Health Organization (WHO) over alleged negligence during the early outbreak of COVID-19, Reuters has reported.
The lawsuit, which was filed by survivors of COVID-19 which included a New Rochelle doctor and six Mount Vernon residents, sought damages for Westchester adults.
The plaintiffs accused WHO of downplaying the Corona virus early in the outbreak and for failing to declare the disease a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
According to the report, U.S. District Judge, Cathy Seibel, on Monday dismissed the lawsuit.
Judge Cathy Seibel opined that WHO was immune under its own 1948 constitution and the International Organization Immunities Act from the class-action lawsuit being sought by the seven Westchester County plaintiffs.
Also, the judge rejected the arguments that the actions of WHO nullified its immunity, saying that WHO’s pandemic response contained policy judgments within its discretion.
Seibel said the complaint “makes only the general and vague assertion that the WHO negligently failed to provide effective leadership and implementation of its core global functions under (International Health Regulations).”
According to Reuters, the plaintiffs also argued the pandemic “likely could have been prevented” had the WHO not been “complicit in the spread and normalization” of Chinese government “propaganda” after early COVID-19 cases were found in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
