Thread by @WHO

Press conference on #Ebola in #DRC & #COVID19 with @DrTedros pscp.tv/w/cRQ4DjI2MTAy…

@DrTedros 🚨 "The Emergency Committee on the #Ebola has advised that the outbreak in #DRC continues to be a public health emergency of international concern, and I have accepted that advice"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "As I said yesterday, as long as there is a single case of #Ebola in an area as insecure & unstable as eastern #DRC, the potential remains for a much larger epidemic.

WHO’s risk assessment is that the risk of spread is high nationally & regionally & low globally"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "Nonetheless, the signs are extremely positive in the eastern 🇨🇩 & I hope that by the time the Emergency Committee reconvenes, we will be able to declare an end to the outbreak.
But even as we near the end of the #Ebola outbreak, we must act now to prevent the next one"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "We can't forget that while #Ebola has killed 2.2k people, #measles has killed 6.3k+ people in 🇨🇩, in less time.
Only 1/2 of health facilities have access to 💧.
Strengthening a health system may not be as sexy as responding to an outbreak, but it's equally important"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "Tomorrow I will travel to Kinshasa, #DRC for discussions with the President and other senior ministers about how to strengthen 🇨🇩’s health system and protect and promote the health of its people"-@DrTedros #HealthForAll

@DrTedros "The current outbreak of #COVID19 highlights why this is so critical.

Our greatest fear remains the damage this coronavirus could do in a country like #DRC.

Even as the flames of one outbreak begin to die down, we are fighting another fire-front"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "As of 6am Geneva time this morning, there are 44,730 cases of #COVID19 in #China, with 1,114 deaths.

Outside 🇨🇳, there are 441 cases from 24 countries, and one death"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "The number of newly confirmed #COVID19 cases reported from #China has declined steadily for the past week, but that must be interpreted with extreme caution.

This outbreak could still go in any direction"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "The number of countries reporting #COVID19 cases has not changed since 4 February. Of the 48 new cases confirmed outside #China yesterday, 40 were on board the #DiamondPrincess cruise ship, which is currently quarantined in Yokohama, 🇯🇵"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros “We are in constant contact with the Japanese government, the @IMOHQ, and the owner of the #DiamondPrincess ship to protect the health of all passengers.”-@DrTedros #COVID19

@DrTedros @IMOHQ “Unfortunately, the #DiamondPrincess 🚢 is one of three cruise ships that have experienced delayed port clearance or have been denied entry to ports, often without an evidence-based risk assessment.”-@DrTedros #COVID19

@DrTedros @IMOHQ “Together with the @IMOHQ, we will issue a communique to all countries to respect the principle of “free pratique” for ships and the principle of proper care for all travelers, in accordance with the International Health Regulations.”-@DrTedros #COVID19

@DrTedros @IMOHQ “We have also established lines of communication with @IMOHQ, the @cliaglobal and the major cruise operators to ensure we have accurate information and can provide the right advice.”-@DrTedros #COVID19

@DrTedros @IMOHQ @CLIAGlobal “WHO has published guidance on how to handle public health events like this on ships, and we urge countries and companies to follow that guidance.”-@DrTedros #COVID19

@DrTedros @IMOHQ @CLIAGlobal “I’m also pleased to announce that today #Cambodia agreed to accept the #Westerdam 🚢, which has been stranded at sea for several days.

Based on what we have been told, there are no suspected or confirmed cases of #COVID19 on board the Westerdam”-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @IMOHQ @CLIAGlobal “The #Westerdam ship will arrive in #Cambodia tomorrow morning. This afternoon I spoke to 🇰🇭’s Minister of Health to thank him for allowing the 🚢 to dock in his country.
This is an example of the intl. solidarity we have consistently been calling for.”-@DrTedros #COVID19

@DrTedros @IMOHQ @CLIAGlobal "Outbreaks can bring out the best & worst in people.

Stigmatizing individuals or entire nations does nothing but harm the response"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"Instead of directing all our energy against the #COVID19 outbreak, stigma diverts our attention & turns people against each other.

I will say it again: this is a time for solidarity, not stigma"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "As you know, the research & innovation forum on #COVID19 concluded this afternoon. I was very encouraged to see the energy & speed with which the global research community has taken up this challenge"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "As we speak, research groups are meeting with the leading research funders to start work immediately on the most pressing questions"-@DrTedros #COVID19

@DrTedros "Some of these issues include easy to apply diagnostics, the best approaches for infection prevention, potential therapies that could be used to treat patients, existing vaccine candidates & how to accelerate them, and how to address the infodemic"-@DrTedros #COVID19

@DrTedros "We’re also doing deeper investigations to identify the source of this virus & to prevent further transmission from animals to humans.

WHO is now developing a master plan for coordinating clinical trials & ensuring they are done coherently and consistently"-@DrTedros #COVID19

@DrTedros "I’ve spoken before about how we have shipped diagnostic kits to laboratories around the world.

We’re also shipping supplies of masks, gloves, gowns to 18 countries, and we have more in the pipeline"-@DrTedros #COVID19

@DrTedros "Finally, our advance team in #China has made good progress in working out the composition of the team and the scope of its work. We hope to have more news to announce soon"-@DrTedros #COVID19

@DrTedros It was the unanimous view of the Emergency Committee on the #Ebola outbreak in #DRC that the event still constitutes a public health emergency of international concern 👉bit.ly/37jmenq

@DrTedros The Emergency Committee on Ebola in #DRC acknowledged the revised risk assessment, which puts the risk now as high at national and regional levels, and low at the global level - Professor Robert Steffen

👉bit.ly/37jmenq

@DrTedros Although the primary concern of the Committee is #Ebola, there are serious ongoing outbreaks of other diseases in #DRC, including measles and cholera. The country continues to need support to combat infectious diseases as well as to strengthen its health system.

@DrTedros The Emergency Committee on #Ebola in #DRC provided the following advice for 🇨🇩: ⬇

@DrTedros @WHOAFRO @OMSRDCONGO The Emergency Committee on #Ebola in #DRC provided the following advice for countries at risk: ⬇

@DrTedros @WHOAFRO @OMSRDCONGO The Emergency Committee on #Ebola in #DRC provided the following advice for all countries: ⬇

@DrTedros @WHOAFRO @OMSRDCONGO @pahowho @WHO_Europe @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO @WHOEMRO The Emergency Committee on #Ebola in #DRC emphasized the importance of continued support by WHO and other national and international partners towards the effective implementation and monitoring of these recommendations. bit.ly/37jmenq

@DrTedros @WHOAFRO @OMSRDCONGO @pahowho @WHO_Europe @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO @WHOEMRO The full statement by @DrTedros 👇 bit.ly/39xOJPN

@DrTedros @WHOAFRO @OMSRDCONGO @pahowho @WHO_Europe @WHOWPRO @WHOSEARO @WHOEMRO Here are some photos from today's media briefing on #Ebola in #DRC and #COVID19