Thread by @WHO

"Since the beginning of the global spread of #COVID19, the Leaders of the @TurkicCouncil (TC) have been cooperating closely, incl on sharing hospital facilities, providing humanitarian aid & testing kits & exchanging clinical expertise and medical support"-@DrTedros addressing TC

"This is an example of the kind of cross-border cooperation we need to get through this pandemic.
Since it first erupted 100+ days ago, the global spread of #COVID19 has overwhelmed health systems, disrupted the global economy & lead to widespread social disruption"-@DrTedros

"The fatality rate is estimated to be 10 times higher than influenza.

More than 1.3 million people have been infected with #COVID19, and almost 80,000 people have lost their lives"-@DrTedros addressing @TurkicCouncil

"So far, the five Member States of the @TurkicCouncil have reported more than 36K cases of #COVID19 & 750 deaths"-@DrTedros #coronavirus

"🇹🇷, the most affected so far of your countries, has suffered a dramatic increase in #COVID19 cases and deaths in the past week. WHO is suffering with you and stands ready to provide whatever support we can"-@DrTedros addressing @TurkicCouncil

"This pandemic is much more than a health crisis. It requires a whole-of government & whole-of-society response.

In the last 100 days, #COVID19 has shown us the damage it can do in wealthy nations"-@DrTedros addressing @TurkicCouncil

"We are yet to see the devastation #COVID19 could cause in more vulnerable countries. We’re committed to doing everything we can to prevent that from happening"-@DrTedros addressing @TurkicCouncil

"The window for containing the #coronavirus at the subnational & national level is closing in many countries.

Since the beginning of the #COVID19 outbreak, WHO has shipped personal protective equipment and testing kits to the @TurkicCouncil states"-@DrTedros

"While each of your countries is in a different phase of the outbreak, all must have the same focus: to scale up efforts to minimize the impact of the epidemic on health systems, social services and economic activity"-@DrTedros addressing @TurkicCouncil on #COVID19

"Restrictive social measures alone only buy us time. Stopping the transmission of the #coronavirus requires a comprehensive strategy to find, test, isolate and care for every case, and trace every contact"-@DrTedros addressing @TurkicCouncil on #COVID19

"At the same time, equitable access to healthcare is critical, esp among vulnerable groups. In the #COVID19 era, access to essential health services must be ensured for all. Otherwise, the outbreak will be harder to control & puts everybody at risk"-@DrTedros at @TurkicCouncil

"National strategies must be supported at the international level in 5 key areas"-@DrTedros addressing @TurkicCouncil on #COVID19

"These are the 5 areas WHO is focused on:
-support countries to prepare & respond
-provide epidemiological analysis & risk communication
-coordinate the supply chain
-provide technical expertise & mobilize #healthworkers
-accelerate R&D, innovation & knowledge sharing"-@DrTedros

"Our second #COVID19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan, to be published in the coming days, will estimate the resources needed to implement national and international strategies during the next phase of the response"-@DrTedros addressing @TurkicCouncil

"I want to thank all Member States & partners who have responded to our first #COVID19 Strategic Preparedness & Response Plan. $800+M has been pledged or received.
I especially thank the government & people of 🇦🇿 for their contribution of $5M"-@DrTedros at @TurkicCouncil

"🇹🇷 also deserves recognition for its support of is European neighbors by sending essential supplies"-@DrTedros addressing @TurkicCouncil on #COVID19

"We'd like to invite all of you to participate in the Solidarity Trial, an international study that will show us which treatments are most effective. Many countries from throughout the world are already participating"-@DrTedros addressing @TurkicCouncil on #COVID19

"To stop #COID19 pandemic, we have to continue & improve on the kind of cooperation that you've already been demonstrating.

We’re all in this together & we still have a long way to go.

But with solidarity & determination, we will overcome this common threat together"-@DrTedros