Thread by @kakape

Nearly 1,5 million confirmed #covid19 cases have been reported to @WHO and more than 92,000 deaths, @DrTedros says at the start of press briefing. In past week, "we’ve seen a welcome slowing in some of the hardest-hit countries in Europe, like Spain, Italy, Germany and France”.

@WHO @DrTedros Highlights #covid19 situation in Africa, which we have all been worrying about now for weeks: "we are seeing the spread of the coronavirus to rural areas. We are now seeing clusters of cases and community spread in more than 16 countries."

@WHO @DrTedros "We anticipate severe hardship for already overstretched health systems, particularly in rural areas, which normally lack the resources of those in cities”, says @DrTedros about Africa. Existing public health and primary health care infrastructure need to be strengthened, he says

@WHO @DrTedros Says some countries are already planning to transition out of severe #physicaldistancing measures, but that lifting restrictions too quickly could lead to resurgence: "The way down can be as dangerous as the way up if not managed properly"

@WHO @DrTedros Says infections in health care workers are a particular concern. In some countries up to 10% of health care workers get infected with #covid19, says @DrTedros.

@WHO @DrTedros Critical that health workers have access to PPE. Says new UN Supply Chain Task Force will scale up procurement and distribution of PPE, diagnostics and oxygen to countries that need it most. “May need to cover more than 30% of the world’s needs in the acute phase of the pandemic"

@WHO @DrTedros Every month
100 million medical masks
25 million respirators, gowns and face shields
2,5 million tests
will have to be shipped.
@WFP will use eight 747 aircraft and eight medium-sized cargo aircraft to move supplies.

@WHO @DrTedros @WFP Says costs of storing and moving supplies alone will be 280 million dollars. “The costs of procuring supplies will be much greater”, says @drtedros. Urges donors to support this.

@WHO @DrTedros @WFP Q from @HelenBranswell about any new information on breakdown of mild vs. moderate cases of #covid19. A from @mvankerkhove: most of the data still from China: 40% mild, 40% moderate (and that includes pneumonia that does not require hospitalization).

@WHO @DrTedros @WFP @HelenBranswell @mvankerkhove On new #Ebola case @drmikeryan says positive news is that everyone was ready. "Every day we investigate 2600 alerts across the province.” That active surveillance will continue.
Says there is a lesson for #covid19 is: “You must always be ready to go back again, to start again.”