Thread by @WHO

LIVE: Press briefing on the #2019nCoV outbreak with @DrTedros pscp.tv/w/cQrSTjI2MTAy…

@DrTedros "As of 6am Geneva time this morning, there are 24,363 confirmed #2019nCoV cases in #China, and 490 deaths.

In the last 24 hours we had the most cases in a single day since the outbreak started"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "Outside #China there are 191 #2019nCoV cases in 24 countries & one death, in the #Philippines.

Of those, 31 cases are in people with no travel history to 🇨🇳, but all are close contacts of a confirmed case or of someone from Wuhan"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "So far, 99% of the #2019nCoV cases are in #China, and 80% of cases in 🇨🇳 are from Hubei province.

The relatively small number of cases outside 🇨🇳 gives us a window of opportunity to prevent this outbreak from becoming a broader global crisis"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "Last night I said that some high-income countries are well behind in sharing vital case data with WHO. I’m pleased to report that since then 🇦🇺 has reported its cases & 🇯🇵has said it will expedite its reporting, although some other countries are still lagging behind"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "Our greatest concern is about the potential for spread in countries with weaker health systems, and who lack the capacity to detect or diagnose the #2019nCoV virus. We are only as strong as the weakest link"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "We continue to support the Chinese government’s efforts to address the #2019nCoV outbreak at the epicenter, at the source, in Wuhan 🇨🇳. We must not forget how difficult this is for the people of Wuhan"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "We’re also continuing to provide scientific leadership. Today the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for Infectious Hazards is meeting to examine what we know and provide advice"-@DrTedros #2019nCoV

@DrTedros "WHO has released a total of $9 million from our own Contingency Fund for Emergencies"-@DrTedros #2019nCoV

@DrTedros "WHO is sending half a million masks;

350,000 pairs of gloves;

40,000 respirators;

and almost 18,000 isolation gowns from our warehouses in Dubai and Accra to 24 countries, and we will add more countries"-@DrTedros #2019nCoV

@DrTedros "We’re sending 250,000 tests to more than 70 reference laboratories globally to facilitate faster testing"-@DrTedros #2019nCoV

@DrTedros "But we need to do more.

That’s why today we are launching a Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan, to support countries to prevent, detect and diagnose onward transmission"-@DrTedros #2019nCoV

@DrTedros "We are requesting $675 million to fund the plan for the next three months. $60 million of that is to fund WHO’s operations – the rest is for the countries that are especially at risk"-@DrTedros #2019nCoV

@DrTedros "Our message to the international community is:

invest today, or pay more later"-@DrTedros #2019nCoV

@DrTedros "$675 million is a lot of money, but it is much less than the bill we will face if we do not invest in preparedness now.

Once again, we cannot defeat this outbreak without solidarity – political solidarity, technical solidarity and financial solidarity"-@DrTedros #2019nCoV

@DrTedros "We understand that people are worried and concerned – and rightly so.

But this is not a time for fear – it’s a time for rational, evidence-based action and investment, while we still have a window of opportunity to bring this outbreak under control"-@DrTedros #2019nCoV