Thread by @WHO

Daily media briefing on #COVID19 with @DrTedros. #coronavirus pscp.tv/w/cRavKTI2MTAy…

@DrTedros "I am speaking to you from 🇨🇩, where I have met with @Presidence_RDC, ministers, @UN colleagues & partners to review the impressive progress that has been made to end #Ebola & to talk about future plans to ensure that everyone in 🇨🇩 can access quality health services"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @Presidence_RDC @UN "I have been impressed with the commitment of @Presidence_RDC & his government to ending the #Ebola outbreak in eastern #DRC and I would like to urge the whole world to recommit to getting to zero Ebola cases"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @Presidence_RDC @UN "But it is also vitally important that resources and attention focus on strengthening the country’s health system and bolstering preparedness"-@DrTedros from #DRC

@DrTedros @Presidence_RDC @UN "Whether it’s #Ebola or #COVID19, investing in preparedness is the smartest way to ensure disease outbreaks are identified and stopped quickly"-@DrTedros from #DRC

@DrTedros @Presidence_RDC @UN "I am glad to say that countries around the world are in a better state of preparedness for #COVID19 than they were just a week ago, and WHO’s efforts to help countries boost their lab capacity continue"-@DrTedros from #DRC

@DrTedros @Presidence_RDC @UN "As you know, #China has changed the way it reports data from Hubei province.

There are now a total of 47,505 laboratory-confirmed #COVID19 cases in China, and 16,427 cases that have been clinically-confirmed in Hubei province"-@DrTedros from #DRC

@DrTedros @Presidence_RDC @UN "We are seeking further clarity on how clinical diagnosis is being made, to ensure other respiratory illnesses including influenza are not getting mixed into the #COVID19 data"-@DrTedros from #DRC

@DrTedros @Presidence_RDC @UN "In total, there have been 1,381 deaths in #China, including 100 reported today.

Outside China, there have been 505 cases in 24 countries and two deaths"-@DrTedros from #DRC

@DrTedros @Presidence_RDC @UN CORRECTION: "In total, there have been 1,381 deaths in #China, including 121 reported today.

Outside China, there have been 505 cases in 24 countries and two deaths"-@DrTedros from #DRC

@DrTedros @Presidence_RDC @UN "The vice minister of the national health commission has said that as of Tuesday 1716 #healthworkers have been infected, and six have died"-@DrTedros from #DRC

@DrTedros @Presidence_RDC @UN "This is a critical piece of information, because #healthworkers are the glue that holds the health system & outbreak response together. We need to know more about this figure, including the time period & circumstances in which the health workers became sick-@DrTedros #COVID19

@DrTedros @Presidence_RDC @UN "WHO guidelines have been developed for #healthworkers taking care of hospitalised adults and paediatric patients with acute infections. These guidelines have been made available to all countries"-@DrTedros #COVID19

@DrTedros @Presidence_RDC @UN "We have been in regular contact with suppliers, asking them to prioritize production and distribution of personal protective equipment to #healthworkers on the front lines. We are also in touch with Member States on this important issue"-@DrTedros #COVID19

@DrTedros @Presidence_RDC @UN "I’m glad to say that the WHO-led Joint Mission with 🇨🇳 on #COVID19 is moving forward. We expect the full team to touch down over the weekend.
The mission consists of 12 international & WHO experts & a similar number of national expert counterparts from #China"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @Presidence_RDC @UN "The Joint Mission will include in-depth workshops, a data review with the principal ministries, meetings with key national-level institutions & field visits in three provinces to understand the application & impact of response activities at provincial & county levels"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @Presidence_RDC @UN "The goal of the joint mission is to rapidly inform the next steps in the #COVID19 response & preparedness activities in #China & globally"-@DrTedros from #DRC

"Particular attention will be paid to understanding the transmission of the virus, the severity of disease & the impact of ongoing response measures"-@DrTedros from #DRC

@DrTedros "It will be important to review which type of information is needed so that the world can use this window of opportunity to prepare health systems and workers for possible outbreaks"-@DrTedros from #DRC #COVID19

@DrTedros "Clearly this is an evolving picture. #HealthWorkers & responders in #China are working with virtually no sleep in difficult conditions. But we need to ensure that we’re getting the most accurate data, as quickly as possible, to assist 🇨🇳 & support the global response"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "We’re working with our Chinese counterparts on these issues, and this is also part of the scope of work for the WHO-led joint mission with #China"-@DrTedros from #DRC #COVID19

@DrTedros "I wish to thank #Cambodia for demonstrating to the world the meaning of solidarity. While other countries turned away the #Westerdam cruise ship, 🇰🇭 allowed it to dock"-@DrTedros from #DRC #COVID19

https://twitter.com/DrTedros/status/1227955331181023233?s=20

@DrTedros "Today hundreds of passengers are disembarking and are en route to their home countries.
20 passengers who reported signs of illness have tested negative for the #COVID19 virus.
I hope that other countries will follow #Cambodia’s lead"-@DrTedros from #DRC

https://twitter.com/DrTedros/status/1227984498970779648?s=20

@DrTedros "Lastly, I want to say again, from my heart, that this is the time for solidarity, not stigma. There are worrying signs that the world is not hearing the call for unity & standing in unison with those at the epicenter in 🇨🇳 who are saving lives & alleviating suffering"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros The full briefing by @DrTedros on #COVID19 👇bit.ly/39AXd8Q