Thread by @kakape

"Around the world, we’re now seeing an increase in the number of reported cases of #COVID19, especially in Europe and the Americas”, says @drtedros at @WHO presser. "Each of the last four days has been the highest number of cases reported so far."

@DrTedros @WHO "There has been some discussion recently about the concept of reaching so called herd immunity”, says @drtedros and gives the reasons why that is a bad idea:
1. immunity unclear
2. vast majority of people still susceptible
3. long term health impacts still unclear

@DrTedros @WHO “Allowing a dangerous virus that we don't fully understand to run free is simply unethical”, says @drtedros. "It's not an option."

@DrTedros @WHO "There are many tools at our disposal”, says @drtedros. “@WHO recommends
case finding, isolation, testing, compassionate care, contact tracing, quarantine, physical distancing, hand hygene, masks, respiratory etiquette, ventilation, avoiding crowds, and more."

@DrTedros @WHO "There are no shortcuts and no silver bullets, the answer is a comprehensive approach using every tool in the toolbox”, says @drtedros. Countries have done this successfully. "My message to every country now, weighing up its options is, you can do it too."

@DrTedros @WHO I asked about COVAX.
180 countries have now committed to the facility incl. the 92 countries that are eligible for GAVI support, says @doctorsoumya. “When you add up all of these countries, they represent 90% of the world's population."

@DrTedros @WHO @doctorsoumya "It looks like the COVAX facility really brought countries and people together”, says @doctorsoumya. “It sets a good example for for believing in and trying to achieve equitable access of vaccines."

@DrTedros @WHO @doctorsoumya Q about Brazil
“We are pleased to see the numbers stabilizing and going down in Brazil”, says @DrMikeRyan. “But remember, they're stabilizing and going down from some very very high numbers, and there are still many people getting #COVID19 in Brazil and across the Americas."

@DrTedros @WHO @doctorsoumya @DrMikeRyan “The fact that disease is on the way down does not mean that disease will not pick up again, and very very quickly in certain circumstances”, says @DrMikeRyan. "So we need to remain vigilant in all countries."

@DrTedros @WHO @doctorsoumya @DrMikeRyan We all remain humbled by how little we know about the virus, says @mvankerkhove. “But we know a heck of a lot more than we did a few months ago.” Says the knowledge is empowering: “What we are doing is having an effect. What we are doing is saving lives.”

@DrTedros @WHO @doctorsoumya @DrMikeRyan @mvankerkhove Q about infections rising in Europe but hospitalisations less so
@DrMikeRyan: likely many factors at play, including the time lag between infections and hospitalizations and the fact that younger people are more affected at the moment and more testing means more mild cases found.

@DrTedros @WHO @doctorsoumya @DrMikeRyan @mvankerkhove Social distancing and masks may also lead to people being infected to lower infectious dose, says @DrMikeRyan. “That is something that's still very very speculative, something that will be explored and is being explored as we speak"

@DrTedros @WHO @doctorsoumya @DrMikeRyan @mvankerkhove "I think we need to be really careful right now not to make an assumption” that disconnect between infections and hospitalisations will stay that way, says @DrMikeRyan. “That could reconnect very very badly and very catastrophically unless we're very, very careful."

@DrTedros @WHO @doctorsoumya @DrMikeRyan @mvankerkhove Q about elections during pandemic
“It's possible to manage them, and reduce risk to an absolute minimum if everybody participates and if everybody adheres to what is an agreed method and agreed practice”, says @DrMikeRyan. “Problem very often is when those practices are ignored."

@DrTedros @WHO @doctorsoumya @DrMikeRyan @mvankerkhove “We're working right now on finalizing specific guidance for countries who choose in person elections, learning from the last eight nine months as to what has worked in those circumstances”, says @DrMikeRyan. Will be issuing that guidance in the coming days.