Thread by @WHO

LIVE: Daily media briefing on #COVID19 with @DrTedros. #coronavirus pscp.tv/w/cTEQ_DI2MTAy…

"I would like to start by acknowledging #InternationalWomensDay this Sunday.
This is a moment to remember that around the world, many women cannot access essential health services & continue to suffer disproportionately from preventable & treatable diseases"-@DrTedros

"#InternationalWomensDay is an opportunity not only to promote & protect the health of women, but to highlight the vital role they play in promoting & protecting the health of all people.
Women make up 70% of the 🌍 health workforce, but hold only 25% of senior roles"-@DrTedros

"WHO is committed to promoting gender equality everywhere & especially in the health workforce.

We’re proud that we have achieved gender equality in our senior leadership team at WHO HQ, although we know we still have work to do in other parts of the Organization"-@DrTedros

"Women are also playing a vital role in the response to #COVID19, and we’re proud to have many amazing women leading our response, including @mvankerkhove, @SCBriand, @doctorsoumya, Ana Maria, Mariângela, Marie Pierre, Adriana, @gabbystern & many others"-@DrTedros

"In the past 24h, 2736 cases of #COVID19 were reported from 47 countries & territories.

There is now a total of 98,023 reported cases globally & 3380 deaths.

We are now on the verge of reaching 100,000 confirmed cases"-@DrTedros #coronavirus

"As #COVID19 cases increase, we are continuing to recommend that all countries make containment their highest priority.

We continue to call on countries to find, test, isolate and care for every case, and to trace every contact"-@DrTedros #coronavirus

"Slowing down the #COVID19 epidemic saves lives, and it buys time for preparedness and for research and development.

Every day we can slow down the epidemic is another day hospitals can prepare themselves for cases"-@DrTedros #coronavirus

"Every day we slow down the #COVID19 epidemic is another day:
-governments can prepare their #healthworkers to detect, test, treat & care for patients.
-closer to having vaccines & therapeutics, which can in turn prevent infections & save lives"-@DrTedros #coronavirus

"Last month WHO convened a meeting of over 400 scientists to identify #COVID19 research priorities.
Hundreds of ideas were discussed & debated & today we are publishing an R&D roadmap which distills those ideas into a core group of priorities in 9 key areas"-@DrTedros

"These incl the natural history of the #coronavirus, epidemiology, vaccines, diagnostics, therapeutics, clinical management, ethical considerations, social sciences.
The R&D roadmap focuses on research that can save lives now, as well as longer-term research priorities"-@DrTedros

"It’s vital to coordinate research so that different groups around the world complement each other, so WHO can give better advice, and countries can take evidence-based decisions that save lives"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus

"WHO has developed a set of core protocols that outline standards for how studies should be done & to collect critical data so we can compare apples with apples & pool data from multiple studies"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus

"We’re also developing research protocols to assess interventions for disenfranchised communities such as refugees & internally displaced persons.
We’re very encouraged by the level of interest around the world in accelerating research as part of the response"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"So far WHO has received applications for review & approval of 40 diagnostic tests, 20 vaccines are in development & many clinical trials of therapeutics are underway"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus

"Even as we test therapeutics, we need to ensure that supplies of those medicines are available should they prove effective.
WHO has been monitoring the potential risk of a disruption to medicines supplies as a result of the #COVID19 epidemic"-@DrTedros #coronavirus

"🇨🇳 is a major producer of active pharmaceutical ingredients & the intermediate products that are used to produce 💊 in other countries.
WHO has focused on the most essential 💊 that are critical for #PrimaryHealthCare & emergencies"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus

"WHO is working closely with industry associations, regulators & other partners to monitor this risk, and so far we have not identified any imminent specific shortages"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus

"Many manufacturers either have alternative sources of ingredients, or had stocks to draw on. Manufacturing has now resumed in most places in #China, although some challenges remain"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus

"WHO has developed a list of over 20 essential medical devices that countries need to manage #COVID19 patients, incl ventilators and oxygen supply systems"-@DrTedros

"Access to medical oxygen could be the difference between life and death for some patients, but there is already a shortage in many countries, which could be exacerbated by this #COVID19 epidemic"-@DrTedros #coronavirus

"WHO has an existing working group with the @gatesfoundation, the @ClintonHealth and @PATHtweets, and we are building on that partnership to increase access to oxygen"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"We encourage every country to review WHO’s disease commodity package for #COVID19 to ensure it has the supplies it needs, incl protective equipment & medical devices"-@DrTedros #coronavirus

"All of this requires the involvement of the private sector to ensure countries can access life-saving products"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus

"You’ve heard me talk about:
-the market failure for personal protective equipment
-the need for a whole-of-government approach
-what individuals can do to protect themselves & others.

We look forward to businesses to step up and play their part. We need you"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"WHO is working with the @wef to engage companies around the world, and earlier this week I spoke to more than 200 CEOs about how they can protect their staff and customers, ensure business continuity and contribute to the response"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus

"As I keep saying, we’re all in this together, and we all have a role to play.

Facts not fear.

Reason not rumours.

Solidarity not stigma"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus

The full briefing on #COVID19 by @DrTedros 👇
bit.ly/2TutKrV