Thread by @WHO

LIVE: Press conference on the Emergency Committee meeting on #2019nCoV pscp.tv/w/cQMn-DI2MTAy…

"Over the past few weeks, we have witnessed the emergence of a previously unknown pathogen, which has escalated into an unprecedented outbreak, and which has been met by an unprecedented response"-@DrTedros #2019nCoV

@DrTedros @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO @pahowho @WHO_Europe @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO "As I have said repeatedly since my return from Beijing, the 🇨🇳 government is to be congratulated for the extraordinary measures it has taken to contain the #2019nCoV outbreak, despite the severe social & economic impact those measures are having on the Chinese people"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO @pahowho @WHO_Europe @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO "We would have seen many more cases outside #China by now – and probably deaths – if it were not for the government’s efforts, and the progress they have made to protect their own people and the people of the world"-@DrTedros #2019nCoV

@DrTedros @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO @pahowho @WHO_Europe @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO "The speed with which #China detected the outbreak, isolated the virus, sequenced the genome and shared it with WHO and the world are very impressive. So is 🇨🇳’s commitment to transparency and to supporting other countries"-@DrTedros #2019nCoV

@DrTedros @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO @pahowho @WHO_Europe @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO "I also offer my profound respect and thanks to the thousands of brave health professionals and all frontline responders, who in the midst of the Spring Festival, are working 24/7 to treat the sick, save lives and bring this outbreak under control"-@DrTedros #2019nCoV

@DrTedros @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO @pahowho @WHO_Europe @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO "There are now 98 #2019nCoV cases in 18 countries outside #China, including 8 cases of human-to-human transmission in four countries: Germany, Japan, Viet Nam and the United States of America"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO @pahowho @WHO_Europe @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO "So far we have not seen any deaths outside #China, for which we must all be grateful. Although these numbers are still relatively small compared to the number of cases in 🇨🇳, we must all act together now to limit further spread"-@DrTedros #2019nCoV

@DrTedros @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO @pahowho @WHO_Europe @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO "The vast majority of cases outside #China have a travel history to Wuhan, or contact with someone with a travel history to Wuhan"-@DrTedros #2019nCoV

@DrTedros @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO @pahowho @WHO_Europe @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO "We don’t know what sort of damage this #2019nCoV virus could do if it were to spread in a country with a weaker health system.
We must act now to help countries prepare for that possibility"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO @pahowho @WHO_Europe @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO 🚨BREAKING🚨

"For all of these reasons, I am declaring a public health emergency of international concern over the global outbreak of #2019nCoV."-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO @pahowho @WHO_Europe @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO "The main reason for this declaration is not because of what is happening in #China, but because of what is happening in other countries"-@DrTedros #2019nCoV

@DrTedros @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO @pahowho @WHO_Europe @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO "Our greatest concern is the potential for the virus to spread to countries with weaker health systems, and which are ill-prepared to deal with it"-@DrTedros #2019nCoV

@DrTedros @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO @pahowho @WHO_Europe @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO "Let me be clear: this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in #China. On the contrary, WHO continues to have confidence in China’s capacity to control the outbreak"-@DrTedros #2019nCoV

@DrTedros @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO @pahowho @WHO_Europe @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO "As you know, I was in #China just a few days ago, where I met with President Xi Jinping. I left in absolutely no doubt about China’s commitment to transparency, and to protecting the world’s people"-@DrTedros #2019nCoV

@DrTedros @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO @pahowho @WHO_Europe @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO "To the people of #China & to all of those around the 🌏who have been affected by this outbreak, we want you to know that the 🌏 stands with you"-@DrTedros #2019nCoV

@DrTedros @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO @pahowho @WHO_Europe @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO "We are working diligently with national and international public health partners to bring this outbreak under control as fast as possible"-@DrTedros #2019nCoV

@DrTedros @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO @pahowho @WHO_Europe @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO "In total, there are now 7834 confirmed #2019nCoV cases, including 7736 in #China, representing almost 99% of all reported cases worldwide. 170 people have lost their lives to this outbreak, all of them in China"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO @pahowho @WHO_Europe @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO "We must remember that these are people, not numbers.

More important than the declaration of a public health emergency are the committee’s recommendations for preventing the spread of the #2019nCoV virus and ensuring a measured and evidence-based response"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO @pahowho @WHO_Europe @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO "There is no reason for measures that unnecessarily interfere with intl. travel & trade.
We call on all countries to implement decisions that are evidence-based & consistent. WHO stands ready to provide advice to any country that is considering which measures to take"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO @pahowho @WHO_Europe @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO "We must support countries with weaker health systems"-@DrTedros #2029nCoV

@DrTedros @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO @pahowho @WHO_Europe @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO "[We must:]
-accelerate the development of vaccines, therapeutics & diagnostics;
-combat the spread of rumours & misinformation.
-review preparedness plans, identify gaps & evaluate the resources needed to identify, isolate & care for cases, & prevent transmission"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO @pahowho @WHO_Europe @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO "[We must:]
-share data, knowledge & experience with WHO & the world.
The only way we will defeat this outbreak is for all countries to work together in a spirit of solidarity & cooperation. We are all in this together, & we can only stop it together"-@DrTedros #2019nCov

@DrTedros @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO @pahowho @WHO_Europe @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO The Committee emphasized that the declaration of a public health emergency shld be seen in the spirit of support & appreciation for 🇨🇳 , its people & the actions.
🇨🇳 has taken on the frontlines of this outbreak, with transparency, and, it is to be hoped, with success
-Dr Houssin

@DrTedros @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO @pahowho @WHO_Europe @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO What does Public Health Emergency of Intl Concern means?
WHO issues temporary recommendations. These are non-binding but practically & politically significant measures that can address travel, trade, quarantine, screening, treatment. WHO can also set global standards of practice

@DrTedros @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO @pahowho @WHO_Europe @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO WHO can hold countries to account when they needlessly exceed these global standards. This is critical to ensuring the international response is evidence-based, measured & balanced to protect human health in ways that are neither over-reactive nor under-reactive.

- Dr Houssin

@DrTedros @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO @pahowho @WHO_Europe @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO Full statement on the meeting of the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee on the #2019nCoV 👉 bit.ly/319CHci

@DrTedros @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO @pahowho @WHO_Europe @WHOEMRO @WHOAFRO @UN_News_Centre @UN @UNGeneva The full statement by @DrTedros on IHR Emergency Committee on new #coronavirus 👉 bit.ly/2vAEXxz

Previously, there have been 5 public health emergencies of international concern declared:
🚨 2009 H1N1
🚨 2014 polio
🚨 2014 Ebola in West Africa
🚨 2016 Zika
🚨 2019 Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo