Thread by @kakape

“This will not be the last pandemic”, says @DrTedros at the @WHO presser on #COVID19. “When the next pandemic comes, the world must be ready - more ready than it was this time."

@DrTedros @WHO Many countries have made huge advances in medicine, says @DrTedros. “But too many have neglected their basic public health systems, which are the foundation for responding to infectious disease outbreaks.” Building back better must mean investing in public health, he says.

@DrTedros @WHO Running through several countries that have responded well, Thailand, Uruguay, Mongolia, Mauritius and more, @DrTedros says: "Many of these countries have done well because they learnt lessons from previous outbreaks of SARS, MERS, measles, polio, Ebola, flu and other diseases."

@DrTedros @WHO “Although Germany's response was strong, it's also learning lessons”, @DrTedros says. Lauds Merkel’s announcement of €4 billion investment in public health. "I call on all countries to invest in public health and especially in primary health care, and follow Germany's example."

@DrTedros @WHO Committee evaluating how International Health Regulations functioned in this pandemic will begin work tomorrow, @DrTedros notes. Will review declaration of #PHEIC etc.
Committee members include @rki_de head Lothar Wieler. Names published yesterday who.int/teams/ihr/ihr-…

@DrTedros @WHO @rki_de "Depending on progress made, the committee may present an interim progress report to the resumed World Health Assembly in November”, sas @DrTedros. Final report probably at #WHA74 in May next year.

@DrTedros @WHO @rki_de (Before we get to Q&A wanted to note something else that @DrTedros said right at the start of the presser: “Health is not a luxury item for those who can afford it. It’s a necessity, and a human right.” Let’s all remember that.)

@DrTedros @WHO @rki_de Q about reinfections.
Several studies are following individuals over time, says @mvankerkhove. “There's some very promising results from these studies. They're showing that the antibody response lasts, it stays strong for a certain number of months."

@DrTedros @WHO @rki_de @mvankerkhove Documented cases of reinfection need to be seen in context”, says @mvankerkhove.
"Out of more than 26 million cases, having some case reports of reinfection tells us that this is possible, but it doesn't tell us what's happening at a population level."

@DrTedros @WHO @rki_de @mvankerkhove Q about COVAX facility.
The covax facility is still evolving, says Bruce Aylward and points again to deadline of 18 September for signing up to COVAX. “Discussions and negotiations are still ongoing with a broad number of countries."

@DrTedros @WHO @rki_de @mvankerkhove “The other challenge that countries need to start thinking about now is how the delivery of these vaccines is going to happen”, adds @doctorsoumya. "This is not a childhood vaccination campaign or immunization campaign. This is going to be very different."

@DrTedros @WHO @rki_de @mvankerkhove @doctorsoumya "It's going to be vaccinating adults of certain high risk groups and vulnerable groups”, says @doctorsoumya. “This is going to be different from what's been done in the past, it's going to be a challenge for countries, particularly those with large populations."

@DrTedros @WHO @rki_de @mvankerkhove @doctorsoumya Q on China
“There's no room for complacency”, says @DrMikeRyan. “There is always the risk that disease can flare up again and sporadic cases can turn into clusters, clusters can turn into community transmission and community transmission can lead to overwhelmed health systems."

@DrTedros @WHO @rki_de @mvankerkhove @doctorsoumya @DrMikeRyan Q about reducing quarantine period from 14 to 7 days (based on French plan).
14 days is based on incubation period explains @mvankerkhove. “The average time is between five and six days, but the upper bound of that is 14 days and that's why we make the quarantine period 14 days."

@DrTedros @WHO @rki_de @mvankerkhove @doctorsoumya @DrMikeRyan Q about loss of trust in public health institutions like the CDC.
“Good decisions are based on having the best information”, says @DrMikeRyan. “It’s really important that such institutions are independent, all over the world."

@DrTedros @WHO @rki_de @mvankerkhove @doctorsoumya @DrMikeRyan "It’s really important that governments listen to that advice, but it's also important that governments have the space to implement policy that is based on that advice but not exclusively based on that advice at all times”, says @DrMikeRyan.

@DrTedros @WHO @rki_de @mvankerkhove @doctorsoumya @DrMikeRyan “There is a gap between sometimes the pure science and the actual policies that work”, says @DrMikeRyan. "And that's where a government has to operate and be accountable for that translation of science into effective affordable policy that allows a society to move forward."

@DrTedros @WHO @rki_de @mvankerkhove @doctorsoumya @DrMikeRyan "No one expects governments to be perfect. And certainly, no one expects politicians to be perfect”, says @DrMikeRyan. "But the reality is: Everyone is expected to make the best effort, based on the best interests of citizens, based on the best evidence."