Thread by @kakape

Today’s @WHO presser starts with @DrTedros acknowledging sad milestone: 1 million confirmed cases of #covid19 and more than 50,000 deaths. “We know that this is much more than a health crisis. We are all aware of the profound social and economic consequences of the pandemic"

@WHO @DrTedros Reiterates that some countries need debt relief "to enable them to take care of their people and avoid economic collapse”. Best way to end restrictions is to attack the coronavirus, says @DrTedros. And then again: “find, test, isolate and treat every case and trace every contact"

@WHO @DrTedros If restrictions are lifted too soon, the virus could resurge leading to longer and worse economic impact, says @drtedros.

@WHO @DrTedros Says that several countries are providing free testing and care for #covid19 regardless of insurance, citizenship etc. "We encourage these measures. This is in an unprecedented crisis, which demands an unprecedented response"

@WHO @DrTedros Mentions that house-to-house vaccination campaigns against polio have been suspended. "While all our energy may be focused on #COVID19 now, our commitment to end polio is unshakeable”, says @drtedros.

@WHO @DrTedros Also mentions reports of an increase in domestic violence in some countries. "We call on countries to include services for addressing domestic violence as an essential service that must continue during the #covid19 response”, says @DrTedros.

@WHO @DrTedros "If you are experiencing or at risk of domestic violence, speak to supportive family and friends, seek support from a hotline, or seek out local services for survivors”, says @drtedros.

@WHO @DrTedros .@DrTedros gives more suggestions: "Make a plan to protect yourself and your children any way you can. This could include having a neighbour, friend, relative, or shelter identified to go to should you need to leave the house immediately."

@WHO @DrTedros Then @KGeorgieva, managing director of International Monetary Fund speaks. #Covid19 is "a crisis like no other”, she says. "Never in the history of the IMF we have witnessed the world economy coming to a standstill
. .... It is way worse than the global financial crisis."

@WHO @DrTedros @KGeorgieva Just like #covid19 hits most vulnerable people with pre-existoing conditions hardest, the "economic crisis hits vulnerable economies the hardest”, says @KGeorgieva. Says the pandemic is "humanity’s darkest hour" in her lifetime.

@WHO @DrTedros @KGeorgieva Question from Italy about status on serology tests and what WHO thinks of immunity passports.
@mvankerkhove says a number of countries in Europe and Asia are evaluating antibody tests. But that is ongoing research. Doesn’t address “immunity passports”.

@WHO @DrTedros @KGeorgieva @mvankerkhove Q to @mvankerkhove whether more young people are ending up in ICU. A: Yes, young individuals seen that are experiencing severe disease. Data from Italy, China and other countries. "What we need to better understand is why there are young people who are dying from this infection."

@WHO @DrTedros @KGeorgieva @mvankerkhove Says big question is why some people (both young and old) progress to severe disease and others don’t. @DrMikeRyan adds that in the beginning attitude was sometimes that this ‘only’ affected elderly. "In Italy over the last 5,6 weeks, at least 10-15% in ICU have been under 50."

@WHO @DrTedros @KGeorgieva @mvankerkhove @DrMikeRyan "In the main, younger people still have a milder course of disease”, @drmikeryan says. @DrTedros reiterates what he said to young people at earlier press conference: "You are not invincible!"