Thread by @kakape

BREAKING: @WHO has declared the #2019nCoV outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC). At this point anything else would have been shocking. Reactions from public health experts are bound to be positive. Most wanted this last week.
#coronavirus

@WHO What are the implications of declaring a PHEIC? Legally, not much. The @WHO can make recommendations about travel restrictions, border closures etc that countries have to follow. But the WHO has no way of enforcing that. #2019nCoV

@WHO So declaring a PHEIC is mostly a political signal, designed to get more cooperation, engagement, more resources. As @ashishkjha told me: “It gives more moral authority to the WHO.” #2019nCoV

@WHO @ashishkjha Tedros outlines 7 recommendations made by the emergency committee on #2019nCoV, that he says are more important than PHEIC declaration:

@WHO @ashishkjha Most important:
- WHO does not recommend limiting trade or travel
- Countries with weaker health systems must be supported
- Development of vaccines and medicine must be accelerated
- spread of misinformation and rumors have to be combatted

@WHO @ashishkjha WHO is telling countries very clearly: Don’t restrict travel or trade at this point. It is against our evidence-based recommendations. #2019nCoV

@WHO @ashishkjha Tedros: “We call on all countries to implement decisions that are evidence-based"

@WHO @ashishkjha Tedros also called on countries to "share data, knowledge and experience”. "The only way we will defeat this outbreak is for all countries to work together in a spirit of solidarity and cooperation. We're all in this together” #2019nCoV

@WHO @ashishkjha For reference:
It's the sixth time @WHO has declared a PHEIC since the tool was introduced in 2005.
2009: pandemic flu
2014: polio
2014: Ebola in West Africa
2016: Zika virus
2019: Ebola in DRC
2020: #2019nCoV
Polio and Ebola in DRC are still active PHEICs.