Thread by @WHO

Media briefing on #COVID19 with @DrTedros pscp.tv/w/ce1P8DI2MTAy…

"This Thursday marks six months since WHO declared #COVID19 a public health emergency of international concern"-@DrTedros

"This is the sixth time a global health emergency has been declared under the International Health Regulations, but it is easily the most severe"-@DrTedros

"Almost 16 million #COVID19 cases have now been reported to WHO, and more than 640,000 deaths.

And the pandemic continues to accelerate.

In the past 6 weeks, the total number of cases has roughly doubled"-@DrTedros

"When I declared a public health emergency of international concern on the 30th of January – the highest level of alarm under international law – there were less than 100 #COVID19 cases outside of #China, and no deaths"-@DrTedros

"As required under the International Health Regulations, I will reconvene the Emergency Committee later this week to re-evaluate the #COVID19 pandemic and advise me accordingly"-@DrTedros

"#COVID19 has changed our world. It has brought people, communities and nations together, and driven them apart.

It has shown what humans are capable of – both positively and negatively.

We have learned an enormous amount, and we’re still learning"-@DrTedros

"But although our world has changed, the fundamental pillars of the #COVID19 response have not: political leadership, and informing, engaging and listening to communities"-@DrTedros

"And nor have the basic measures needed to suppress transmission and save lives: find, isolate, test and care for cases; and trace and quarantine their contacts"-@DrTedros

"Keep your distance from others, clean your hands, avoid crowded and enclosed areas, and wear a mask where recommended.

Where these measures are followed, cases go down. Where they’re not, cases go up"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"Countries & communities that have followed this advice carefully & consistently have done well, either in preventing large-scale outbreaks – like 🇰🇭, 🇳🇿, 🇷🇼, 🇹🇭, 🇻🇳 & the Pacific & Caribbean islands – or in bringing large outbreaks under control – like 🇨🇦, 🇨🇳, 🇩🇪 & 🇰🇷"-@DrTedros

"These are just a few examples. There are many more.

The bottom line is that one of the most fundamental ingredients for stopping this virus is determination, & the willingness to make hard choices to keep ourselves & each other safe"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"Over the past 6 months, WHO worked tirelessly to support countries to prepare for and respond to this virus.

I am immensely proud of this organization’s incredible people and their efforts"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"Within days of learning of the first #COVID19 cases in #China, we published extensive guidance on how to find, test and treat cases and protect #healthworkers"-@DrTedros

bit.ly/3jGuTHL

"We convened hundreds of scientists to develop a roadmap for research.
We have brought together thousands of experts from all over the world, in many disciplines, to analyse the evolving evidence and distil it into guidance"-@DrTedros #COVID19

bit.ly/2SIFLJY

"Never before has WHO produced such a large volume of technical advice in such a short period.

More than 4 million people have enrolled in our training courses through the OpenWHO.org online learning platform"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"We launched the Solidarity Trial to find answers fast about which therapeutics are the most effective.

We launched Solidarity Flights to ship millions of test kits and tons of protective gear all over the world"-@DrTedros #COVID19

bit.ly/COVID19Solidar…

"We launched the #COVID19 Solidarity Response Fund, which has so far mobilized $225+M from more than 563,000 individuals, companies & philanthropies.
In addition, we mobilized $1+ billion from Member States & other generous to support countries"-@DrTedros
bit.ly/COVID19Donate

"We worked with community organizations, religious groups, the public and private sectors, tech companies and many other groups to fight the #COVID19 infodemic"-@DrTedros

bit.ly/32UEPYl

"And we have formed the ACT Accelerator to speed up the development, production and equitable distribution of #COVID19 vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics"-@DrTedros

bit.ly/3i6tzx2

"We've done an incredible amount, but we still have a long, hard road ahead of us. We know that the impacts of the #COVID19 pandemic are felt far beyond the suffering caused by the virus itself.
Many essential health services have been disrupted, incl. for #hepatitis"-@DrTedros

"Tomorrow is #WorldHepatitisDay.

There are five main strains of the #hepatitis virus.

The two most common types, B and C, cause liver damage and liver cancer"-@DrTedros

"An estimated 325 million people globally live with #hepatitis B or C, and each year these viruses kill an estimated 1.3 million people"-@DrTedros

"In 2016, #WHA69 adopted the global #hepatitis strategy, setting the world’s first hepatitis elimination targets.
The strategy calls for the elimination of viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030 – reducing new infections by 90% & mortality by 65%"-@DrTedros

"Even talking about #hepatitis elimination would have once seemed a fantasy.
But new drugs have transformed hepatitis C from a lifelong, deadly disease into one that in most cases can be cured in 12 weeks"-@DrTedros

"Although in many countries the [#hepatitis C] medicines remain expensive and out of reach for many patients"-@DrTedros

"Still, many countries are making incredible progress.

#Egypt has tested more than 60 million people for #hepatitis C, and linked those who test positive to treatment free of charge"-@DrTedros

"We are also seeing some progress with #hepatitis B elimination, for example in Asia where childhood hepatitis B immunization coverage is high, including the all-important birth dose"-@DrTedros #VaccinesWork

"Today we are celebrating more good news:

New research led by WHO and the @LSHTM shows that together we have achieved the global target set in 2000 to reduce the prevalence of #hepatitis B infections in children under 5 years of age to less than 1% by 2020"-@DrTedros

"This landmark achievement means we will dramatically reduce the number of cases of liver cancer and cirrhosis in future generations"-@DrTedros

"However, progress is being hampered by low coverage of #hepatitis B vaccine in some regions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where many children still miss out on the all-important vaccine dose at birth"-@DrTedros #VaccinesWork

"One of the most significant challenges we face in eliminating #hepatitis B is mother-to-children transmission"-@DrTedros

"Tomorrow, WHO is launching new guidelines for the prevention of mother-to-👶 transmission of #hepatitis B.
We call on countries, esp. those with the highest burden, to implement these new guidelines as an important stepping stone on the road to hepatitis elimination"-@DrTedros

"Services for #hepatitis prevention, testing & treatment have been disrupted, supply chains are being interrupted, limited financial & human resources are being diverted & the political focus has shifted to containing the #COVID19 pandemic & economic recovery"-@DrTedros

"All of which means there is a real risk we could lose the gains we have made.

Like so many diseases, #hepatitis is not just a health problem. It’s an enormous social and economic burden"-@DrTedros

"As we mark 6 months since the declaration of the global health emergency, the #COVID19 pandemic is illustrating that health is not a reward for development, it’s the foundation of social, economic and political stability"-@DrTedros

"We are not prisoners of the #COVID19 pandemic. Every single one of us can make a difference. The future is in our hands.

WHO remains totally committed to serving all people and all countries with science, solutions and solidarity"-@DrTedros

The full remarks by @DrTedros 👇
bit.ly/3f7XyC6