Thread by @kakape

Regular #covid19 presser @WHO starts with @drtedros talking about World Health Assembly which ended yesterday (and was held virtually for the first time): "We saw unprecedented solidarity”, he says then thanks a long list of presidents and prime ministers for taking part.

@WHO @DrTedros Says if #WHA73 resolution is implemented it would ensure "a more coherent, coordinated and fairer #COVID19 response that saves both lives and livelihoods"

@WHO @DrTedros Mentions 4 points from #WHA73 resolution:
1. ensure fair distribution of essential health technologies
2. harness international treaties (incl. TRIPS)
3. classify #covid19 vaccines as global public good
4. collaborate to promote private and public R&D

@WHO @DrTedros Says #covid19 technology platform proposed by Costa Rica will launch on 29.5. and aims “to lift access barriers to effective vaccines, medicines and other health products”.

@WHO @DrTedros Solidarity trial testing experimental #covid19 therapies now includes 3000 patients in 320 hospitals in 17 countries, says @DrTedros.

@WHO @DrTedros In last 24 hours, 106 000 cases of #covid19 were reported to @WHO, says @DrTedros, “the most in a single day since the outbreak began”. Almost 2/3 of those from just 4 countries, he says (doesn’t name countries, assuming US, Russia, Brazil, but not sure about fourth)

@WHO @DrTedros Ends on a cautious note of hope: Says last person treated for #Ebola in DRC was discharged on May 14, so that day 42-day countdown began to declaring that outbreak (and PHEIC) over. "We now have 36 days to go but new Ebola cases could still emerge, as we have seen before."

@WHO @DrTedros Q about #WHA73 resolution’s call for independent evaluation of international #covid19 response. "It has to be done and when it is done it has to be a comprehensive one”, says @drtedros. "It will involve all actors and it will check all actors."

@WHO @DrTedros Q from China Daily about “distracting voice” of Trump in global solidarity.
@drtedros: “We have, of course, received the letter and we are looking into it."

@WHO @DrTedros Another question about US threat of defunding @WHO.
@DrTedros: "We have received the letter and we are looking into it.” (I think I can see a pattern emerging here...)

@WHO @DrTedros Q about potential impact on @WHO budget of US decision. @drtedros says WHO budget is small and only 20 percent of the funding is flexible, he points out. Not just the amount of funding is important, he says, “the quality of it is poor too”.

@WHO @DrTedros Much of US funding for WHO goes directly to humanitarian health operations all over the world, says @DrMikeRyan. Says emergencies program receives $100 million a year from US. "We trust that other donors will - if necessary - step in to fill that gap."

@WHO @DrTedros @DrMikeRyan Q from India pointing out that it is now 11th country to cross 100,000 cases
"India continues to do a good job… trying to balance controlling #covid19 with economic and social consequences of that”, says @DrMikeRyan. But still early days he says.

@WHO @DrTedros @DrMikeRyan Also points out that northeastern India and Bangladesh are facing a cyclone now on top of #covid19. “We trust that everyone can be kept as safe as possible."

@WHO @DrTedros @DrMikeRyan Q about recent reports of #covid19 presenting unusually.
"This is still a virus that we are learning about", says @mvankerkhove. On GI symptoms says: "between 3 and 5% of patients have reported some kind of nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea"

@WHO @DrTedros @DrMikeRyan @mvankerkhove “We will soon reach the tragic milestone of 5 million cases”, @DrMikeRyan adds. Says as disease spreads so widely rarer cases can be seen too. "That is not to say that the virus itself is changing."

@WHO @DrTedros @DrMikeRyan @mvankerkhove Says it is important to track three things:
- the virus itself, how and where it is transmitting
- genetic sequence of the virus (to make sure it is not evolving to become more dangerous)
- clinical syndrome