United States (US) President Donald Trump, Friday carried out his threat, as he terminated the partnership between his country and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Trump announced the end of the relationship during a news conference in the Rose Garden, White House, citing WHO’s handling of the pandemic in China as part of the reason.

“We have detailed the reforms that it must make and engaged with them directly, but they have refused to act. Because they have failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms, we will today be terminating our relationship with the WHO and redirecting those funds to other worldwide and deserving urgent global public health needs.

“The world needs answers from China on the virus. We must have transparency,” Trump said.

According to him, the decision is part of steps intended to punish WHO and China for what he dubbed a “cover-up” of the coronavirus outbreak on Chinese soil.

Over 101,000 people have died from COVID-19 in the US and there have been at least 1.7 million cases. A forecast published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) projects that the number of deaths might rise to over 123,000 by June 20.