Thread by @WHO

LIVE: Press conference on the Emergency Committee meeting on new #coronavirus (2019-nCoV) pscp.tv/w/cPnbJzI2MTAy…

The Emergency Committee on the new #coronavirus (2019-nCoV) considered that it is still too early to declare a public health emergency of international concern given its restrictive and binary nature

The Emergency Committee on the new #coronavirus (2019-nCoV) urged to support ongoing efforts through a WHO international multidisciplinary mission, including national experts

The mission would review and support efforts to investigate:
🔺 the animal source of the new #coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak
🔺 the extent of person-to-person transmission
🔺 the screening efforts in other provinces of #China

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1220412152818937856?s=20

The mission would also review and support efforts to investigate:
🔺 the enhancement of surveillance for severe acute respiratory infections in these regions
🔺 to reinforce containment and mitigation measures

#coronavirus

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1220412152818937856?s=20

BREAKING: "I am not declaring a public health emergency of international concern [PHEIC] today.

As it was yesterday, the Emergency Committee was divided over whether the outbreak of novel coronavirus represents a PHEIC"-@DrTedros on new #coronavirus

@DrTedros "Make no mistake. This is an emergency in #China, but it has not yet become a global health emergency.

WHO’s risk assessment is that the outbreak is a very high risk in China, and a high risk regionally and globally"-@DrTedros on new #coronavirus

@DrTedros "584 cases have now been reported to WHO, including 17 deaths. 575 of those cases & all of the deaths have been reported in #China, with other cases reported in Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, the United States of America & Vietnam"-@DrTedros on #coronavirus

@DrTedros "We are aware of media reports of suspected cases in other countries, but those cases are still being investigated"-@DrTedros on new #coronavirus

@DrTedros "We know that this virus can cause severe disease, and that it can kill, although for most people it causes milder symptoms.

We know that among those infected, one quarter of patients have experienced severe disease"-@DrTedros on new #coronavirus

@DrTedros "We know that most of those who have died had underlying health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes or cardiovascular disease that weakened their immune systems"-@DrTedros on new #coronavirus

@DrTedros "We know that there is human-to-human transmission in 🇨🇳, but for now it appears limited to family groups & #healthworkers caring for infected patients. At this time, there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission outside 🇨🇳, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "There is still a lot we don’t know. We don’t know the source of this virus, we don’t understand how easily it spreads & we don’t fully understand its clinical features or severity"-@DrTedros on new #coronavirus

@DrTedros "WHO is working with our partners night and day in #China and the other affected countries, at the regional level and here at headquarters to fill the gaps in our knowledge as quickly as possible"-@DrTedros on new #coronavirus

@DrTedros "It is likely that we will see more cases in other parts of #China & other countries. 🇨🇳 has taken measures it believes appropriate to contain the spread of coronavirus in Wuhan & other cities. We hope that they will be both effective and short in their duration"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "For the moment, WHO does not recommend any broader restrictions on travel or trade.
We recommend exit screening at airports as part of a comprehensive set of containment measures"-@DrTedros on new #coronavirus

@DrTedros "All countries should have in place measures to detect cases of #coronavirus, including at health facilities.
The committee has made several recommendations to prevent the further spread of the virus, which the Chair has described, and which I have accepted"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "There are a few simple things we can all do to protect ourselves and each other, like washing hands, covering your mouth & nose when you sneeze, & so on.

WHO has a full package of information on its website"-@DrTedros on new #coronavirus

@DrTedros "Once again, I’d like to thank the Government of #China for its cooperation & transparency. The government has been successful in isolating & sequencing the virus very quickly & has shared that genetic sequence with WHO & the international community"-@DrTedros on new #coronavirus

@DrTedros "This [new #coronavirus] outbreak was detected because #China had put in place a system specifically to pick up severe lower respiratory infections. It was that system that caught this event"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "I wish to reiterate that the fact I am not declaring a PHEIC today should not be taken as a sign that WHO does not think the situation is serious, or that we are not taking it seriously.

Nothing could be further from the truth"-@DrTedros on new #coronavirus

@DrTedros "WHO is following this [new #coronavirus] outbreak every minute of every day, at country, regional & global level.

We are working to prevent human-to-human transmission"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "We have provided guidance to all countries for the rapid identification, management & containment of the virus.

We are coordinating our networks of global experts.

We are working to advance the development of diagnostics, therapeutics & vaccines"-@DrTedros on new #coronavirus

"We are completely committed to ending this [new #coronavirus] outbreak as soon as possible.

And I will not hesitate to reconvene the committee at a moment’s notice"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros Reduce your risk of #coronavirus infection
bit.ly/2tMEBmu

@DrTedros One advantage that we have now is the International Health Regulations to coordinate international response, control measures and to share information globally - @SCBriand

#coronavirus

@DrTedros @SCBriand We have to be very careful this early in an outbreak to make conclusion on severity. We have to stick with the facts. What we know now 17 people have died [out of 575 people who have been sick] and their families grieve for them - @DrMikeRyan

@DrTedros @SCBriand @DrMikeRyan [THREAD] More on how to reduce your risk of #coronavirus

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1218269428166602753?s=20

@DrTedros @SCBriand @DrMikeRyan Full statement on the meeting of the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee on the new #coronavirus (2019-nCoV) bit.ly/37x5aeF

The full statement by @DrTedros on IHR Emergency Committee on new #coronavirus 👇

bit.ly/3aDm1hG