Thread by @kakape

#Covid19 @WHO presser starts with @DrTedros thanking musicians, comedians and humanitarians who were involved in Saturday’s concert “One World, Together at Home”. It raised more than 127 million dollars, he says, incl. 55 million dollars for @WHO's solidarity fund.

@WHO @DrTedros Moves to countries easing restrictions. Repeats again that "lockdowns can help to take the heat out of a country’s epidemic, but they cannot end it alone”. To beat #covid19 “countries must now ensure they can detect, test, isolate and care for every case and trace every contact."

@WHO @DrTedros On serology tests, @DrTedros says early data from studies of antibodies “suggest that a relatively small percentage of the population may have been infected, even in heavily affected areas”.

@WHO @DrTedros Says that increasing production and distribution of diagnostic tests (not talking about serology now) is a priority of @WHO. Says five tests have been validated and orders for 30 millions tests over the next 4 months have been placed. Shipments to start next week.

@WHO @DrTedros More than 100 countries have joined Solidarity Trial to evaluate #covid19 therapeutics, says @DrTedros. 1200 patients have been randomised from first 5 countries. "The faster we recruit patients, the faster we will get results."

@WHO @DrTedros Ends with a tribute to Dr. Richard Mouzoko from Cameroon, who was killed a year ago yesterday while fighting #Ebola in DRC. Says WHO is committed to supporting health care workers around the world. “Thank you for saving lives while putting your lives at risk.”

@WHO @DrTedros Also mentions that after 54 days without a case, there have now been six #Ebola cases in last 10 days in DRC. Sad indeed. “We are continuing to work hard with our partners to support the government to ensure that this spark does not become a larger fire”.

@WHO @DrTedros Q from journalist from LeMonde about Taiwan warning WHO early of outbreak in China. @DrMikeRyan gives a detailed explanation. Says WHO received an email from Taiwan on 31st December, after promed had first reported cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan.

@WHO @DrTedros @DrMikeRyan Q from Morocco about situation there, with ramadan coming up.
@mvankerkhove says Morocco has built up a lot of diagnostic capabilities in dealing with MERS and influenza, "that have been invaluable now in fighting #covid19."

@WHO @DrTedros @DrMikeRyan @mvankerkhove Q on Santa Clara study, suggesting number of #covid19 cases may be much higher than thought.
@mvankerkhove says it is one of several studies in pre-publication. Says overall they suggest that "a small proportion of people have antibodies to #covid19".

@WHO @DrTedros @DrMikeRyan @mvankerkhove Says mostly results suggest proportion of population that is antibody positive is in single-digits, but mentions 14% from Germany’s Heinsberg study as well. Says proportion is "lower than anticipated”.

@WHO @DrTedros @DrMikeRyan @mvankerkhove Had to drop off presser unfortunately. Will check audio later, but it was one of the less interesting press conferences. Really depends on journalists asking the right questions. Today they mostly didn’t, imho.