Thread by @WHO

Media briefing on #COVID19 with @DrTedros. #coronavirus pscp.tv/w/cUDvbzI2MTAy…

"It’s now more than a month since the last case of #Ebola in #DRC. If it stays that way, the outbreak will be declared over in less than a month’s time.

We’d like to thank all our partners for their solidarity in staying the course in the service of the people of 🇨🇩"-@DrTedros

"That same spirit of solidarity must be at the centre of our efforts to defeat #COVID19.

More than 200,000 cases have been reported to WHO & more than 8000 people have lost their lives.

More than 80% of all cases are from two regions – the @WHOWPRO & @WHO_Europe"-@DrTedros

"We know that many countries now face escalating epidemics & are feeling overwhelmed.

We hear you. We know the tremendous difficulties you face & the enormous burden you’re under. We understand the heart-wrenching choices you are having to make"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus

"We understand that different countries and communities are in different situations, with different levels of #COVID19 transmission"-@DrTedros #coronavirus

"Every day, WHO is talking to ministers of health, heads of state, #healthworkers, hospital managers, industry leaders, CEOs and more – to help them prepare and prioritize, according to their specific situation"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus

"Don’t assume your community won’t be affected. Prepare as if it will be.

Don’t assume you won’t be infected. Prepare as if you will be.

But there is hope. There are many things all countries can do"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus

"Physical distancing measures like cancelling sporting events, concerts & other large gatherings can:
-help to slow the #coronavirus transmission
-reduce the burden on the health system
-help to make epidemics manageable, allowing targeted and focused measures"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"But to suppress and control epidemics, countries must isolate, test, treat and trace.

If they don’t, transmission chains can continue at a low level, then resurge once physical distancing measures are lifted"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus

"WHO continues to recommend that isolating, testing and treating every suspected #COVID19 case, and tracing every contact, must be the backbone of the response in every country. This is the best hope of preventing widespread community transmission"-@DrTedros #coronavirus

"Many countries are listening to our call & finding solutions to increase their ability to implement the full package of measures that have turned the tide in several countries"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus

"But we know that some countries are experiencing intense epidemics with extensive #COVID19 community transmission.

We understand the effort required to suppress transmission in these situations. But it can be done"-@DrTedros #coronavirus

"A month ago, 🇰🇷 was faced with accelerating #COVID19 community transmission. But it didn’t surrender.
It educated, empowered & engaged communities
It developed an innovative testing strategy & expanded lab capacity
It rationed the use of masks
..."-@DrTedros #coronavirus

"...
[🇰🇷] It did exhaustive contact tracing and testing in selected areas
And it isolated suspected cases in designated facilities rather than hospitals or at home.

As a result, #COVID19 cases have been declining for weeks"-@DrTedros #coronavirus

"At the peak in 🇰🇷 there were more than 800 #COVID19 cases and yesterday there were only 90 cases"-@DrTedros #coronavirus

"WHO is working in solidarity with other countries with #COVID19 community transmission to apply the lessons learned in 🇰🇷 and elsewhere, and adapt them to the local context"-@DrTedros #coronavirus

"Likewise, WHO continues to recommend that, wherever possible, confirmed mild #COVID19 cases should be isolated in health facilities, where trained professionals can provide good medical care, and prevent clinical progression and onward transmission"-@DrTedros #coronavirus

"If that’s not possible, countries can use community facilities to isolate & care for mild #COVID19 cases & refer them for specialized care quickly if needed"-@DrTedros #coronavirus

"If health facilities are at risk of being overwhelmed, people with mild #COVID19 disease can be cared for at home.

Although this is not the ideal situation, WHO has advice on our website for how home-care can be provided as safely as possible"-@DrTedros #coronavirus

"WHO continues to call on all countries to implement a comprehensive approach, with the aim of slowing down #COVID19 transmission and flattening the curve.

This approach is saving lives and buying time for the development of vaccines and treatments"-@DrTedros #coronavirus

"The first vaccine trial has begun, just 60 days after the genetic sequence of the #coronavirus was shared. This is an incredible achievement.
We commend the researchers around the world who have come together to systemically evaluate experimental therapeutics"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"Multiple small trials with different methods may not give us the clear, strong evidence we need about which treatments help to save lives.
WHO & partners are organizing a study in many countries in which some of these untested treatments are compared with each other"-@DrTedros

"This large, international study is designed to generate the robust data we need, to show which treatments are the most effective.

We have called this study the SOLIDARITY trial"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus

"The SOLIDARITY trial provides simplified procedures to enable even hospitals that have been overloaded to participate"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus

"Many countries have already confirmed that they will join the SOLIDARITY trial - Argentina, Bahrain, Canada, France, Iran, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland and Thailand - and I trust many more will join"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus

"I continue to be inspired by the many demonstrations of solidarity from all over the 🌍.
The #COVID19 Solidarity Response Fund has now raised over $43M from more than 173K individuals & organizations. I’d especially like to thank @FIFAcom for its contribution of $10M"-@DrTedros

"These and other efforts give me hope that together, we can and will prevail.

This #coronavirus is presenting us with an unprecedented threat. But it’s also an unprecedented opportunity to come together as one against a common enemy"-@DrTedros #COVID19

The full briefing on #COVID19 by @DrTedros 👇 bit.ly/2Ulg5Tj

Here are few photos from today's media briefing on #COVID19.