Aylward emphasizes importance of planning for burden on hospitals - contingency needs for beds, ventilators, lab capacity, etc. Notes that China is doing this even where cases are declining; much of the world still isn't.
Need a shift in mindset elsewhere in the world. We're no longer in contingency preparedness mode any more; now must move to active readiness for the expectation it will arrive. Surveillance to find it promptly, frontline hospital readiness to manage cases. FAST.
And need to bring the general population along. Build trust and acclimate people to what's coming; proactively educate public on how to prepare and protect themselves.
Aylward says that Chinese are doing extensive nationwide testing now and not seeing evidence of widespread mild transmission. Counteracts the speculation that official numbers are just the "tip of the iceberg."
