Thread by @kakape

#Covid19 presser starting now @WHO with @drtedros saying he is "deeply concerned about the rapid escalation and global spread of infection”. Over past 5 weeks, "we have witnessed a near exponential growth in the number of new #COVID19 cases, reaching almost every country”.

@WHO @DrTedros "The number of deaths has more than doubled in the past week. In the next few days we will reach one million confirmed #covid19 cases, and 50,000 deaths”, says @DrTedros.

@WHO @DrTedros While Africa and S and Central America have reported fewer cases “we realize that #COVID19 could have serious social, economic and political consequences for these regions"

@WHO @DrTedros .@DrTedros highlights the consequences that social instancing measures can have for poorest and most vulnerable in society. "I have called on governments to put in place social welfare measures to ensure vulnerable people have food and other life essentials during this crisis"

@WHO @DrTedros Mentions India, which has announced "free food rations for 800 million disadvantaged people, cash transfers to 204 million poor women and free cooking gas for 80 million households for next three months."

@WHO @DrTedros .@DrTedros calls for debt relief for many developing countries that will struggle to implement such social welfare programs. "For those countries, debt relief is essential to enable them to take care of their people and avoid economic collapse"

@WHO @DrTedros “Three months ago, we knew almost nothing about this coronavirus. Collectively, we have learned an enormous amount. And every day, we learn more", says @DrTedros.

@WHO @DrTedros Says 74 countries have now joined Solidarity trial and more than 200 patients have already been enrolled in the the trial as of this morning. “Each new patient who joins the trial gets us one step closer to knowing which drugs work”, says @DrTedros.

@WHO @DrTedros .@drtedros mentions debate about masks, says "WHO recommends the use of medical masks for people who are sick and those caring for them” but says masks are only effective in these circumstances when combined with other measures.

@WHO @DrTedros "WHO continues to gather all available evidence and continues to evaluate the potential use of masks more broadly to control #COVID19 transmission at the community level”, says @drtedros. "As the pandemic evolves, so does the evidence, and so does our advice"

@WHO @DrTedros Question from Brazil: What is your message to the Brazilian people and the leadership?
Mike Ryan:" I think the message that @WHO is giving to all countries is that we need a comprehensive strategy to respond to this disease." (being diplomatic, not engaging on Bolsonaro)

@WHO @DrTedros Question about danger of #covid19 spreading during Ramadan. “Countries in the Middle East have been doing everything they can to limit the spread of the virus”, says @drtedros. Highlights the financial support @WHO is getting from the Middle East.

@WHO @DrTedros Q from Gutemala: How do you se #covid19 situation in central America? @DrMikeRyan says countries there are at the beginning of the epidemic and each country has a different combination of social and economic challenges, different health care systems and vulnerable populations.

@WHO @DrTedros @DrMikeRyan All countries need to scale-up health care preparedness and community engagement, says @DrMikeRyan. “This is a deadly virus2, he says. "Countries will get through it, but we must build the architecture of public health."

@WHO @DrTedros @DrMikeRyan Q from Kosovo, about what the country should do. @DrMikeRyan says he spent many months in Kosovo and he knows the challenges and vulnerabilities there. "The health system in Kosovo is still vulnerable”, he says. Good surveillance is needed.

@WHO @DrTedros @DrMikeRyan Q from India about how WHO assesses progress in the country in the first week of shutdown. (I understand these questions but a bit disappointing when the press conference becomes a round-up of journalists from every country asking about the situation there.)

@WHO @DrTedros @DrMikeRyan “This is the first ever coronavirus pandemic in the world”, says @DrTedros. "Meaning there are many unknowns. And whether we do shutdowns or take other measures, we have to understand that we are in a learning process. We have to constantly learn from our actions."

@WHO @DrTedros @DrMikeRyan Says what India is doing to mitigate the effect of shutdown on poorest and most vulnerable is important. “We should not see it from the public health part alone, but see it from the angle of what the consequences of these public health measures will be on the community."

@WHO @DrTedros @DrMikeRyan Important to critically look at what countries are doing and assess what measures work best, says @mvankerkhove. For instance comparing different testing strategies, what movement restrictions are put in place when and where, how leaders are communicating with the public.

@WHO @DrTedros @DrMikeRyan @mvankerkhove Q from Russia: Can ginger treat coronavirus? @drmikeryan points out that there is no treatment proven to be effective against #covid19. Says people should keep doing things that make them feel better as long as they are not dangerous. (So: drink your tea, but it’s not medicine)

@WHO @DrTedros @DrMikeRyan @mvankerkhove Q about whether data from China can be trusted. "We need to be very careful not to be profiling certain parts of the world as being uncooperative”, says @DrMikeRyan. Says great publications also coming from China and others. "We need to look at contributions across the board."

@WHO @DrTedros @DrMikeRyan @mvankerkhove "We need to be critical”, says @drmikeryan. "At the same time, we need to be balanced in that and we need to recognise that systems under pressure find it hard to share everything on a minute-by-minute basis.”