Thread by @WHO

Media briefing on #COVID19 with @DrTedros. #coronavirus pscp.tv/w/cVyXJzI2MTAy…

"Tomorrow marks 100 days since WHO was notified of the first cases of “pneumonia with unknown cause” in #China.

It’s incredible to reflect on how dramatically the world has changed, in such a short period of time"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus

"Today I’d like to give an overview of what WHO has done in the past 100 days, and what we will be doing in the near future to alleviate suffering and save lives"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus

"On the 1st of January, just hours after we were notified of the first cases, WHO activated its Incident Management Support Team, to coordinate our response at headquarters, regional and country level"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus

"On the 5th of January, WHO officially notified all Member States of this new outbreak, and published a disease outbreak news on our website"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus

"On the 10th of January, we issued a comprehensive package of guidance to countries on how to detect, test and manage potential cases, and protect #healthworkers"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus

"On the same day, we convened our strategic and technical advisory group on infectious hazards to review the situation.

We have been engaging with journalists since the beginning, responding to media enquiries around the clock"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus

"We convened the emergency committee on the 22 Jan & again a week later, after the first human-to-human transmission cases were reported outside 🇨🇳 & declared a PHEIC, our highest level of alarm. At the time there were 98 cases outside 🇨🇳 & no deaths"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"In February an intl team of experts from 🇨🇦, 🇨🇳, 🇩🇪, 🇯🇵, 🇰🇷, 🇳🇬, 🇷🇺, 🇸🇬 and 🇺🇸 visited affected provinces in #China to learn more about the #coronavirus, the outbreak and the response, and to glean lessons for the rest of the world"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"In early February the @UN Crisis Management Team was activated, to coordinate the entire machinery the UN to support countries as effectively as possible"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus

"Since then, we have been working day & night in five key areas.

1⃣ we’ve worked to support countries in building their capacity to prepare & respond"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus

"Through WHO’s network of 6 regional offices & 150 country offices, we’ve worked closely with governments around the world to prepare their health systems for #COVID19 & to respond when cases arrive"-@DrTedros #coronavirus

"We issued a Strategic Preparedness & Response Plan, which identified the major actions countries need to take & the resources needed to carry them out.
Govs & partners rose to the challenge. More than 800M dollars has been pledged or received for the response"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"That includes more than 140M dollars from more than 229,000 individuals & orgs raised through the #COVID19 Solidarity Response Fund, exceeding all our expectations.

I’d like to thank all donors for their support, including @Apple for its contribution of 10M dollars"-@DrTedros

"To ensure this money is used where it’s needed most, we’ve set up an online portal, to help partners match needs with funds"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus bit.ly/2SIWc8Z

"2⃣ we’ve worked with numerous partners to provide accurate information & fight the infodemic.
We’ve published 50 pieces of technical guidance for the public, #healthworkers & countries, providing evidence-based advice on every element of the #COVID19 response"-@DrTedros

"We activated our global expert networks to tap the world’s leading epidemiologists, clinicians, social-scientists, statisticians, virologists, risk communicators & others"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus

"Our EPI-WIN team has adapted our advice for individuals & communities, #healthworkers, employers & workers, faith-based organizations & more about how to protect themselves & others"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus

"Through our daily situation reports & these regular press briefings, we’ve kept the world informed about the latest data, information & evidence.

We’ve held regular briefings with our Member States, to answer their questions & learn from their experiences"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"We’ve worked with many media & tech companies: @Facebook, @Google, @instagram, @LinkedIn, @messenger, @Pinterest, @Snapchat, @TencentGlobal, @tiktok_uk, @Twitter, @Viber, @WhatsApp, @YouTube & more to counter myths & misinformation with reliable, evidence-based advice"-@DrTedros

"The @WhatsApp chatbot now has more than 12 million followers & is available in 7 languages, incl Hindi & Portuguese, which are launching today. The @Viber chatbot has more than 2 million followers, in three languages & four more to launch next week"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"Just in the past 2 days we convened an online workshop to crowdsource ideas from 600+ experts, institutions & individuals on ways to combat the infodemic.
We’ve worked with @FIFAcom & some of the world’s biggest sports stars to promote #SafeHands & physical activity"-@DrTedros

"And since we announced the One World: #TogetherAtHome concert with @ladygaga & @GlblCtzn on Monday, more TV networks and online platforms from around the world have contacted us offering to broadcast the concert"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus

"3⃣ we’re working hard to ensure supplies of essential medical equipment for frontline #healthworkers.
So far, we’ve shipped more than 2M items of personal protective equipment to 133 countries & we’re preparing to ship another 2M items in the coming weeks"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"We’ve sent 1M+ diagnostic tests to 126 countries, in all regions & we’re sourcing more. But we know much more is needed.
We’re working with the @iccwbo, @wef & others in the private sector to ramp up the production & distribution of essential medical supplies"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"Today we are launching the @UN #COVID19 Supply Chain Task Force, to dramatically scale up the supply of these life-saving tools, and match supply with needs"-@DrTedros #coronavirus

"4⃣ we’re working to train and mobilize #healthworkers.

More than 1.2M people have enrolled in 6 courses in 43 languages on our OpenWHO.org platform"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus

"Experts have been deployed around the world through WHO’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network and our Emergency Medical Teams platform"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus

"5⃣ we’ve accelerated R&D.

In Feb we brought 400+ of the 🌍’s leading researchers together to identify & accelerate research priorities.

We launched the Solidarity Trial, with 90+ countries working together to find effective therapeutics as soon as possible"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"To better understand the transmission, epidemiology & clinical features of the #coronavirus, we've developed research protocols that are being used in 40+ countries, in a coordinated way.
We’re working with @FINDdx to accelerate development & access to diagnostics"-@DrTedros

"Today, 130 scientists, funders & manufacturers from around the world have signed a statement committing to work with WHO to speed the development of a vaccine against #COVID19"-@DrTedros #coronavirus

"Of course, WHO is not alone. Every day, we work with thousands of partners in government, the @UN, academia, the private sector, civil society & more.

There are many, many other things WHO has done in the past 100 days that I haven’t mentioned"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus

"These 5⃣ pillars will continue to be the foundation of our work.

In the coming days, WHO will be releasing an updated strategy & a revised #COVID19 Strategic Preparedness & Response Plan, with an estimate of the financial needs for the next phase of the response"-@DrTedros

"Throughout, our focus has been on working with countries & with partners to bring the 🌍 together to confront this common threat.

We are especially concerned with protecting the 🌍’s poorest & most vulnerable, not just in the poorest countries, but in all countries"-@DrTedros

"For the past 100 days our unwavering commitment has been to serve all people of the 🌍 with equity, objectivity & neutrality.

And that will continue to be our sole focus in the days, weeks and months ahead"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"Finally, this is a special time of year for Christians, Jews and Muslims around the world. Today WHO has published practical considerations & recommendations for faith-based communities"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"We know that #COVID19 means billions of believers are not able to celebrate in the way they usually would.

We wish everyone a safe and joyful Easter, Passover and Ramadan"-@DrTedros #coronavirus

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

We apologize for sound issues at the beginning of the briefing today. Here you can watch the full statement on #COVID19 by @DrTedros 👇