The new US administration on Thursday thanked the World Health Organisation (WHO) for leading the global pandemic response and vowed to remain a member state. The dramatic about-turn came about as soon as Joe Biden took office as the president of the nation.

"Under trying circumstances, this organisation has rallied the scientific and research and development community to accelerate vaccines, therapies and diagnostics," top US scientist Anthony Fauci, who has been named President Joe Biden's chief medical advisor, told a meeting of the WHO's executive board.

The WHO, he said, had "relentlessly worked with nations in their fight against Covid-19."

His comments marked a clear departure from the harsh criticism dealt to the WHO by former US president Donald Trump, who had begun withdrawing his country from the organisation. But on his first day in office Wednesday, Biden reversed that decision.

In a letter sent to United Nations chief Antonio Guterres, Biden announced he was retracting Trump's July 6 notification that the United States intended to withdraw from the UN health agency in 12 months' time.

"The United States intends to remain a member of the World Health Organisation," Biden wrote.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hailed the about-face.

In his address to the WHO on Thursday, Fauci stressed that Washington -- long the agency's top donor -- was also committed to resuming the funding.

He said Washington planned to "work constructively with partners to strengthen and importantly reform the WHO".

Fauci said the United States was aware of the towering task ahead in reining in the pandemic, which in just over a year has claimed more than two million lives, infected close to 100 million people and eviscerated the global economy.&nbsp;

Biden, said Fauci, was also preparing to issue a directive including the US intent to join the WHO co-led Covax facility, a globally-pooled Covid-19 vaccine procurement and distribution effort aimed at equitable vaccine access.

Fauci also mentioned an international mission finally under way in China to help investigate the origins of Covid-19.

Both the WHO and China have met criticism that the mission is taking place more than a year after the first cases of the virus surfaced in Wuhan.

The new US administration on Thursday thanked the World Health Organisation (WHO) for leading the global pandemic response and vowed to remain a member state. The dramatic about-turn came about as soon as Joe Biden took office as the president of the nation.

The new US administration on Thursday thanked the World Health Organisation (WHO) for leading the global pandemic response and vowed to remain a member state. The dramatic about-turn came about as soon as Joe Biden took office as the president of the nation. "Under trying circumstances, this organisation has rallied the scientific and research and development community to accelerate vaccines, therapies and diagnostics," top US scientist Anthony Fauci, who has been named President Joe Biden's chief medical advisor, told a meeting of the WHO's executive board. The WHO, he said, had "relentlessly worked with nations in their fight against Covid-19." His comments marked a clear departure from the harsh criticism dealt to the WHO by former US president Donald Trump, who had begun withdrawing his country from the organisation. But on his first day in office Wednesday, Biden reversed that decision. In a letter sent to United Nations chief Antonio Guterres, Biden announced he was retracting Trump's July 6 notification that the United States intended to withdraw from the UN health agency in 12 months' time. "The United States intends to remain a member of the World Health Organisation," Biden wrote. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hailed the about-face. In his address to the WHO on Thursday, Fauci stressed that Washington -- long the agency's top donor -- was also committed to resuming the funding. He said Washington planned to "work constructively with partners to strengthen and importantly reform the WHO". Fauci said the United States was aware of the towering task ahead in reining in the pandemic, which in just over a year has claimed more than two million lives, infected close to 100 million people and eviscerated the global economy. Biden, said Fauci, was also preparing to issue a directive including the US intent to join the WHO co-led Covax facility, a globally-pooled Covid-19 vaccine procurement and distribution effort aimed at equitable vaccine access. Fauci also mentioned an international mission finally under way in China to help investigate the origins of Covid-19. Both the WHO and China have met criticism that the mission is taking place more than a year after the first cases of the virus surfaced in Wuhan.

In an about-turn, US thanks WHO for leading global Covid response

The US has decided to cut off funding to the WHO. President Donald Trump has accused the WHO of 'China bias'. WION's Palki Sharma tells you why the WHO's credibility is the biggest casualty of this outbreak.

Gravitas: US cuts off funding to WHO | Wuhan Coronavirus

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In an about-turn, US thanks WHO for leading global Covid response

Gravitas: US cuts off funding to WHO | Wuhan Coronavirus