Thread by @kakape

#covid19 presser @WHO starts by highlighting launch of #covid19 Tools Accelerator on Friday. Says it showcases the solidarity that is needed to fight the virus. "This initiative is a vital investment in the response, both for the short term and the long term"

@WHO Says @WHO is deeply concerned about impact #covid19 will have on children’s health. "Children may be at relatively low risk from severe disease and death from #covid19, but can be at high risk from other diseases that can be prevented with vaccines"

@WHO Polio vaccination campaigns have been halted, routine immunization has been shut down in some countries. "Even when services are operating, some parents and caregivers are avoiding taking their children to be vaccinated because of concerns about #covid19”, says @DrTedros

@WHO @DrTedros According to @gavi at least 21 low- and middle-income countries are reporting vaccine shortages because of border closures and disruption of travel. As vaccination coverage goes down, more outbreaks will occur, he says. "The tragic reality is that children will die as a result."

@WHO @DrTedros @gavi Because of #covid19, “so far, 14 vaccination campaigns supported by @gavi against polio, measles, cholera, human papillomavirus, yellow fever and meningitis have been postponed”, says @DrTedros. They would have immunized more than 13 million people.

@WHO @DrTedros @gavi Calls on the global community to ensure @gavi is fully funded. "This is not a cost, it’s an investment that pays a rich dividend in lives saved”, says @DrTedros

@WHO @DrTedros @gavi Not just vaccination disrupted: “So have services for many other diseases that afflict the poorest and most vulnerable people – including malaria”. Says worst-case scenario is that the number of malaria deaths in sub-Saharan Africa will double. “But that doesn’t have to happen"

@WHO @DrTedros @gavi And then the reminder (wouldn’t be a @WHO presser without it): "As lockdowns in Europe ease with declining numbers of new #covid19 cases, we continue to urge countries to find, isolate, test and treat all cases and trace every contact”

@WHO @DrTedros @gavi Q: about easing lockdowns in Brazil.
"It isn’t just case numbers and deaths alone”, says @mvankerkhove. Also ability to handle resurgence, contact tracing capacity, having entire population engaged and informed that this needs to happen in a “slow, measured and controlled way”

@WHO @DrTedros @gavi @mvankerkhove Addition from @DrTedros: "We don’t have any power or force to enforce our advice”. Says "some countries accept, some may not. At the end of the day each country takes its own responsibility.” Says countries that followed @WHO’s advice early on in the pandemic did better.

@WHO @DrTedros @gavi @mvankerkhove Q why some countries are in “ACT" initiative and others not.
@drtedros says @WHO “invited countries that have some regional leadership”, mentions South Africa as current chair of African Union, Saudi Arabia because of G20 presidency, Germany as upcoming leader of EU council

@WHO @DrTedros @gavi @mvankerkhove political bait Q about situation in the US: Do you still think the US is doing a great job as it gets close to a million cases?
@drmikeryan: "I think the US is dealing with a complex situation” mentions how different situation is in different states.

@WHO @DrTedros @gavi @mvankerkhove @DrMikeRyan "We believe that the overarching federal plan is very much based on science”, says @DrMikeRyan.
Says he hopes the US can move through that plan to beat #covid19. (these qs always seem a tad pointless, the WHO is not going to get involved in US politics if it can avoid it)

@WHO @DrTedros @gavi @mvankerkhove @DrMikeRyan Q about WHO’s take on South Africa’s handling of pandemic.
@drmikeryan says the country has used its initial lockdown very well, deployed 39 mobile labs, trained 30,000 community health workers and is tracking HIV+ population closely to see if they are differentially affected

@WHO @DrTedros @gavi @mvankerkhove @DrMikeRyan Every country faces its own challenges, says @DrMikeRyan
"I think South Africa has really shown the way in Africa and it is showing the way globally” for a strong public-health response while facing its own difficulties. But cautions: “nobody is out of the woods yet."

@WHO @DrTedros @gavi @mvankerkhove @DrMikeRyan Q about mutant strain supposed to have higher fatality.
@mvankerkhove says more than 10,000 full genome sequences are available. "So far this virus is relatively stable.” Says there are mutations - as would be expected - but no suggestion that any have changed virus behavior.

@WHO @DrTedros @gavi @mvankerkhove @DrMikeRyan Q about immunity.
@DrMikeRyan says tests can answer q of whether someone was infected but whether that means they are protected "still needs to be addressed". Says assumption would be some level of immunity after infection, but question is how much, how long?

@WHO @DrTedros @gavi @mvankerkhove @DrMikeRyan My feed from @WHO just cut out. :/