Thread by @kakape

“We now have more than 6 million cases of #Covid19 across the world and have lost more than 370,000 people to the virus“, says @drtedros at start of regular @WHO presser on #covid19.

@DrTedros @WHO Mentions the new #Ebola outbreak near Mbandaka that the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo announced today. "WHO will continue supporting DRC in tackling Ebola, as well as responding to #covid19 and the world’s largest measles outbreak”, says @DrTedros.

@DrTedros @WHO “During the #covid19 pandemic, we have seen that mass gatherings have the potential to act as super spreading events”, says @DrTedros. Points to updated guidance to "help organisations determine how and when mass gatherings can safely resume”. (here: who.int/publications-d…)

@DrTedros @WHO Guidance allows organizers to calculate a risk score, says @drtedros. Says WHO has worked wit FIFA, Formula 1 and others, but decision rests with organizers, he says: “While we all want sporting events to restart, we want to make sure that it is done as safely as possible."

@DrTedros @WHO Many people with non-communicable diseases “are no longer able to access the medicines that they need”, says @drtedros. Says @WHO conducted a rapid assessment of how #covid19 has affected services for NCD patients. 155 countries submitted data:

@DrTedros @WHO Survey found that in more than half the countries, services for treatment of hypertension are partially or completely disrupted.
Also:
- half for treatment of diabetes and related complications
- 42% for cancer treatment
- 31% for cardiovascular emergencies

@DrTedros @WHO Interesting focus in @DrTedros opening remarks also on antibiotic resistance. Points out the two sides: overuse of antibiotics in humans and animals in some countries while in others patients who need them have no access, “leading to needless suffering and death”.

@DrTedros @WHO Points out that #covid19 pandemic could exacerbate problem of antibiotic resistance. It "has led to an increased use of antibiotics, which ultimately will lead to higher bacterial resistance rates that will impact the burden of disease and deaths during the pandemic and beyond"

@DrTedros @WHO On possible US withdrawal: “The US government’s and its people’s contribution and generosity towards global health over many decades has been immense, and it has made a great difference in public health all around the world. It is WHO’s wish for this collaboration to continue."

@DrTedros @WHO First question is @HelenBranswell asking what the process is for a country to withdraw from the WHO, but @DrTedros declines to answer.

@DrTedros @WHO @HelenBranswell Q about long-term effects on #covid19 patients and how they should be followed?
@mvankerkhove says millions of people have recovered. “We are starting to follow them more systematically.” Says people who had severe disease may need to be monitored for long-term consequences.

@DrTedros @WHO @HelenBranswell @mvankerkhove Q about some report from Italy suggesting virus has evolved to be weaker. “We expect mutations to occur”, says @doctorsoumya “So far, there has been no correlation with either transmissibility or with potency.”

@DrTedros @WHO @HelenBranswell @mvankerkhove @doctorsoumya In response to Q about hydroxychloroquine, @doctorsoumya says that she expects decision in the next 24 hours from DSMB reviewing data on the use of hydroxychloroquine, while that arm of the Solidarity trial is paused.

@DrTedros @WHO @HelenBranswell @mvankerkhove @doctorsoumya What’s the magical formula for success in #covid19 response?@DrMikeRyan says he has found that countries did well that “have taken real ownership of the problem, politically and pulled in the maximum amount of information from outside and then adapted and driven a local response"

@DrTedros @WHO @HelenBranswell @mvankerkhove @doctorsoumya @DrMikeRyan .@DrMikeRyan points out that 5 of the 10 countries reporting highest number of cases in past 24 hours are in Americas: Brazil, USA, Peru, Chile and Mexico. “Health systems are beginning to come under pressure across the region”, he says.

@DrTedros @WHO @HelenBranswell @mvankerkhove @doctorsoumya @DrMikeRyan "We are seeing a progressive increase in cases on a daily basis … across a range of different countries”, says @drmikeryan. "We're particularly concerned about places like Haiti because of the inherent weakness in the system."

@DrTedros @WHO @HelenBranswell @mvankerkhove @doctorsoumya @DrMikeRyan World was concerned about what would happen in South Asia and Africa, says @DrMikeRyan but situation there appears stable. “We now absolutely need to focus on supporting particularly Central and South America in their response”, he says.

@DrTedros @WHO @HelenBranswell @mvankerkhove @doctorsoumya @DrMikeRyan "Central and South America in particular, have very much become the intense zones of transmission for this virus”, says @drmikeryan. Says he doesn’t believe the peak of that transmission has been reached. "This is the time to stand together and leave no one behind."