Thread by @kakape

#covid19 presser now: @drtedros says more than 3,5 million cases of #covid19 and almost 250,000 deaths have now been reported to @WHO, an average of about 80,000 new cases have been reported every says since the beginning of April.

@DrTedros @WHO “Although the number of #covid19 cases reported from Western Europe is declining, more cases are being reported every day from Eastern Europe, Africa, South-East Asia, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Americas”, says @DrTedros

@DrTedros @WHO “These are not just numbers – every single case is a mother, a father, a son, a daughter, a brother, sister or friend”, says @drtedros.

@DrTedros @WHO .@drtedros highlights pandemic’s disruption to essential health services. Says @WHO together with @Unicef and @ifrc have today published guidance for "how to maintain community-based health care in the context of #covid19”. (link is here: who.int/publications-d…)

@DrTedros @WHO @UNICEF @ifrc Gives two examples from that guidance: "it suggests using telemedicine wherever possible, and leaving insecticide-treated nets for malaria at the door of households, instead of asking people to collect them from a central location"

@DrTedros @WHO @UNICEF @ifrc "It’s also vital that countries pay careful attention to the most vulnerable members of their societies”, says @drtedros. Points out that the pandemic can exacerbate existing inequalities (something we are seeing already in many countries incl. US).

@DrTedros @WHO @UNICEF @ifrc "We cannot end the #covid19 pandemic until we address the inequalities that are fueling it”, says @drtedros. (I applaud the sentiment, but not convinced this is true. I worry the world will find a way once again to muddle through and leave inequalities largely untouched)

@DrTedros @WHO @UNICEF @ifrc Reiterates @WHO criteria for countries exiting lockdown. "The risk of returning to lockdown remains very real if countries do not manage the transition extremely carefully"

@DrTedros @WHO @UNICEF @ifrc “On current trends, more than 5 billion people will lack access to essential health services by 2030" – including seeing health worker, access to medicines, running water in hospitals, says @drtedros. "Gaps like these... put global security and economic development at risk"

@DrTedros @WHO @UNICEF @ifrc "#covid19 pandemic will eventually recede, but there can be no going back to business as usual. We cannot continue to rush to fund panic but let preparedness go by the wayside”, says @DrTedros. "opportunity to lay the foundations for resilient health systems around the world."

@DrTedros @WHO @UNICEF @ifrc Q on contact-tracing apps: Are they working? Should they be mandatory everywhere?
@mvankerkhove: "apps can help but they don’t replace people who need to do that contact tracing”. Says countries use different work forces incl. volunteers who are trained, teachers, students.

@DrTedros @WHO @UNICEF @ifrc @mvankerkhove Q: WHO’s opinion on resumption of soccer matches in Europe?
As usual, @DrMikeRyan points out that WHO can help in risk management. But: "What we don’t do is make the decision as to whether certain events or any events go ahead."

@DrTedros @WHO @UNICEF @ifrc @mvankerkhove @DrMikeRyan Q about a reform that would take decision of declaring PHEIC away from WHO.
@drtedros points to “after action review” as he has done several times. "we should really focus on fighting the fire and saving lives”, he says instead of fighting while the fire rages.

@DrTedros @WHO @UNICEF @ifrc @mvankerkhove @DrMikeRyan Q about situation in Manaus, which is asking for international aid.
@DrMikeRyan says WHO has worked at government's request in Brazil on yellow fever and other diseases. Says WHO stands ready to provide direct technical support to any state if government asks.

@DrTedros @WHO @UNICEF @ifrc @mvankerkhove @DrMikeRyan This presser quickly turning into a “best of” of recurring questions: Taiwan, human-to-human transmission, etc. (Like most “best of” albums it was better the first time round. Frustrating that people keep asking questions that have been answered numerous times.)

@DrTedros @WHO @UNICEF @ifrc @mvankerkhove @DrMikeRyan My colleague @sciencecohen:
Is WHO pushing for a mission to China to investigate the origins of #SARSCoV2? Answer from @mvankerkhove is evasive. Points out that joint mission report to China recommends investigating origins. Says WHO has offered to help.

@DrTedros @WHO @UNICEF @ifrc @mvankerkhove @DrMikeRyan @sciencecohen I asked where @WHO sees most worrying #covid19 trends. @drmikeryan says he is particularly worried about countries with existing, ongoing humanitarian crises. Says 76% increase in cases in Afghanistan in last week, deaths also increasing. Sudan (145% increase), Palestine, Yemen

@DrTedros @WHO @UNICEF @ifrc @mvankerkhove @DrMikeRyan @sciencecohen "there are other concerns in South America, Central America, countries like Peru and Ecuador”, says @DrMikeRyan. Cautions that in some cases increase in cases may be result of increased testing. (proportion of tests that are positive needs to be tracked)