Thread by @juliaoftoronto

Extraordinary statement from @WHO @DrTedros now — this is the turning point: In the past two days, the number of new cases reported in the rest of the world has exceeded number of new cases reported from China.

@WHO @DrTedros Outside of China, there are:

3,474 cases in 44 countries and 54 deaths

This is up from — what? — a few dozen early this month.

Tedros points out there have been many countries that have had some cases, then none. So he's still saying containment is possible.

@WHO @DrTedros The urgency in this press conference, like CDC's on Tues., is heightened.

@DrTedros urging countries to get ready for #covid19 now -- including awareness of the early symptoms.

In:
90 percent of cases it's a fever
70 percent of cases it's a dry cough

@WHO @DrTedros .@DrTedros just used the P word:

"This virus has pandemic potential."

#covid19

@WHO @DrTedros .@DrMikeRyan says high number of deaths in Iran — second to China — likely attributed to virus spreading much more broadly than authorities realized. So the death number looks high next to cases discovered -- but likely more to come soon, as @BogochIsaac and other predicted.