Thread by @ASCOA

We are LIVE with our webcast on the #CoronavirusPandemic.

On today's panel:

Nelson Arboleda, U.S. @HHSGov
Jarbas Barbosa, @pahowho
Ines Bustillo, @eclac_un
and Amparo Elena Gordillo-Tobar of the @WorldBank.

Watch the #HealthcareASCOA discussion: as-coa.org/events/impact-…

L to R:

Ines Bustillo @eclac_un
Nelson Arboleda @HHSGov
Ambaro Elena Gordillo-Tobar @WorldBank
Jarbas Barbosa @pahowho

With @ericfarns moderating. #HealthcareASCOA #CoronavirusPandemic #Covid_19

Watch LIVE: as-coa.org/events/impact-…

Jarbas Barbosa:

From the first case in Latin America on Feb 26 through last night, there are 19 LAC countries with reported cases.

That said, PAHO/WHO has not yet detected widespread community transmission in any country.

#HealthcareASCOA #CoronavirusPandemic #COVID19

See a map of those 19 countries and get details and when/where the #CoronavirusPandemic has appeared in Latin America and the Caribbean, and how governments are responding. as-coa.org/articles/where… #HealthcareASCOA #Covid_19 #COVID19

While much remains to be seen how #COVID19 will respond to seasonal changes, Barbosa says that we can expect the velocity of the virus's spread to ease in the Northern Hemisphere during the summer and accelerate in the Southern Hemisphere during June and July.

#HealthcareASCOA

Amparo Elena Gordillo-Tobar of the World Bank says about ⅓ of #CoronavirusPandemic economic losses will be from loss of life and workplace closures. The remaining losses will come from economic uncertainty.

Watch #HealthcareASCOA LIVE: as-coa.org/events/impact-…

HHS's Nelson Arboleda says that what is critical and important is for health ministries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean to promptly identify clusters of cases and identify strategies to reduce transmission.

#HealthcareASCOA #CoronavirusPandemic #COVID19

Arboleda says that HHS is offering bilateral technical assistance to regional health ministries and is coordinating, along with the CDC, with the PAHO/WHO.

#HealthcareASCOA #CoronavirusPandemic #COVID19

ICYMI: HHS Secretary Alex Azar spoke at AS/COA in April 2019 on the Venezuelan migration crisis. The situation, says @ericfarns, sadly has not improved since then.

Watch the secretary's remarks: bit.ly/2YQ2pB2

Arboleda says HHS is looking at how to utilize tools like WhatsApp to share public health information and evaluating promising initiatives with the private sector to promptly share messages from health officials in Spanish and Portuguese.

#HealthcareASCOA #CoronavirusPandemic

It’s too early to assess and understand the complete impact of #CoronavirusPandemic on the world economy because we don’t know the duration of this external shock, says Ines Bustillo of ECLAC.

#COVID19 is different because it's both a supply and a demand shock.

#HealthcareASCOA

Bustillo says the #CoronavirusPandemic will affect LAC economies on three main fronts:

1) Natural resources/commodities exports
2) Goods and services, and tourism
3) Financial conditions, where #COVID19 has been “extremely, extremely disruptive”

#HealthcareASCOA @eclac_un

.@ericfarns asks the #HealthcareASCOA panel:

What should LAC leaders be doing right now to address this crisis and mitigate potentially worse complications? What would you advise?

Barbosa: 1) Create wide partnerships. We can’t face this challenge alone. 2) Avoid overreacting.

Gordillo-Tobar: Protect the health workers. They are the pillar to be able to provide attention.

Also make sure we're not just reacting but looking to the long-term. What can we learn about this experience that’s sustainable?

#HealthcareASCOA

Arboleda: Flatten the curve. Bajemos la curva. (cf: statnews.com/2020/03/11/fla… )

Bustillo: Protect the most vulnerable.

#HealthcareASCOA #CoronavirusPandemic #Covid_19 #COVID19

And that wraps up our #HealthcareASCOA discussion on the #CoronavirusPandemic. Thank you to all our speakers and everyone who joined us online.

You can watch the full video of today's event here: as-coa.org/events/impact-…