Thread by @WHO

.@DrTedros calls on @g20org to Fight, Unite, and Ignite against #COVID19 👉bit.ly/2QPcSdz #coronavirus

"We come together to confront the defining health crisis of our time. We are at war with a virus that threatens to tear us apart – if we let it.
Almost 0.5 million people have already been infected & more than 20,000 have lost their lives"-@DrTedros at @g20org Summit on #COVID19

"The #COVID19 pandemic is accelerating at an exponential rate.

The first 100,000 cases took 67 days.

The second 100,000 took 11 days.

The third 100,000 took just 4 days.

The fourth 100,000 just 2 days.

Without aggressive action in all countries, millions could die"-@DrTedros

"The full social, economic and political fallout, only time will tell. But we know that the price we end up paying depends on the choices we make now.
This is a global crisis that demands a global response"-@DrTedros at @g20org Summit on #COVID19 #coronavirus

"Today, I have 3⃣ requests for our esteemed leaders:
1⃣ fight. Fight hard. Fight like hell.
Fight like your lives depend on it – because they do.
The best & only way to protect life, livelihoods & economies is to stop the #coronavirus"-@DrTedros at @g20org Summit on #COVID19

"2⃣ unite.
No country can solve this crisis alone. That means a paradigm shift in global solidarity – in sharing experiences, expertise & resources & in working together to keep supply lines open & supporting nations who need our support"-@DrTedros at @g20org Summit on #COVID19

"3⃣ ignite.
Repurpose the industrial might of your nations for this effort:
-Ignite 🌍 production for the tools we need to save lives now
-Ignite innovation for vaccines & therapeutics
-Ignite a 🌍 movement to ensure this never happens again"-@DrTedros at @g20org Summit #COVID19

.@DrTedros welcomed @g20org commitment “to do whatever it takes to overcome the #COVID19 pandemic”:
-protect lives & livelihoods
-restore confidence & shore up stability currently threatened in trade & other sectors
-take all necessary health measures
-ensure adequate financing

The @g20org committed to support & further strengthen WHO’s mandate in coordinating the #COVID19 response & called for full funding of WHO‘s Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan 👉 bit.ly/2QPcSdz

.@g20org pledged to work together to increase research and development funding for #COVID19 vaccines and medicines, strengthen international scientific cooperation, and leverage digital technologies. bit.ly/2QPcSdz

.@g20org tasked WHO & other relevant orgs with assessing gaps in pandemic preparedness & report the findings of this assessment to the G20 Finance & Health Ministers, in order to establish a global initiative on pandemic preparedness & response together. bit.ly/2QPcSdz

The full address by @DrTedros at the @g20org Summit on #COVID19 👉 bit.ly/3dx7NQU #coronavirus