Thread by @WHO

Media briefing on #COVID19 with @DrTedros pscp.tv/w/clhhAjI2MTAy…

"6 months ago, WHO launched the Solidarity Trial to evaluate the effectiveness of 4 drugs for the #COVID19 treatment.
The Solidarity Trial is the 🌍’s largest randomized controlled trial of COVID-19 therapeutics, involving almost 13K patients in 500 🏥 in 30 countries"-@DrTedros

"In June, we announced that we were discontinuing the hydroxychloroquine arm of the study, and in July we announced that we would no longer enrol patients to receive the combination of lopinavir and ritonavir"-
@DrTedros #COVID19

"Interim results from the trial now show that the other two drugs in the trial, remdesivir and interferon, have little or no effect in preventing death from #COVID19 or reducing time in hospital"-@DrTedros

"We would like to thank all of the patients and clinicians who participated so far in this unprecedented study, and the countries and hospitals who covered the costs of the trial"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"The Solidarity Trial is still recruiting about 2000 patients every month and will assess other treatments, including monoclonal antibodies and new antivirals"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"For the moment, the corticosteroid #dexamethasone is still the only therapeutic shown to be effective against #COVID19, for patients with severe disease.

There are still many other ongoing trials of therapeutics identified through the R&D Roadmap for COVID-19"-@DrTedros

"Through the ACT Accelerator, WHO remains totally committed to speeding up the development of vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics for #COVID19, and to ensuring their equitable distribution"-@DrTedros #ACTogether

"In that spirit, we welcome efforts to expand access to #COVID19 tests, treatments and vaccines, such as South Africa’s and India’s recent proposal to the @wto to waive patents on medical products for COVID-19 until the end of the pandemic"-@DrTedros

"Ending the #COVID19 pandemic starts with collaboration and sharing at all levels as a global community.

This includes the sharing of data, knowledge and intellectual property on vital, life-saving health products"-@DrTedros

"That’s why WHO and Costa Rica launched the #COVID19 Technology Access Pool, or C-TAP, in late May this year – a voluntary initiative that would allow the benefits of scientific research to be shared and equitably distributed"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1317126978798080002?s=20

"As the northern hemisphere winter approaches, cases of #COVID19 are rising 🌍, especially in Europe where countries are expanding measures to contain it, & many people are understandably weary of the disruption the pandemic is causing to their lives & livelihoods"-@DrTedros

"Last week, the number of #COVID19 cases reported in Europe was almost 3 times higher than during the first peak in March"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1317127321908891651?s=20

"Although the number of deaths reported in Europe last week is much lower than in March, hospitalizations are increasing and many cities are reporting they will reach their intensive care bed capacity in the coming weeks"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"Every hospital bed occupied by a patient with #COVID19 is a bed that is unavailable for someone else with another condition or disease, such as #influenza.

Every year, there are up to 3.5M severe cases of seasonal influenza 🌍, & up to 650K respiratory-related deaths"-@DrTedros

"During this year’s southern hemisphere winter, the number of seasonal #flu cases and deaths was less than usual because of the measures put in place to contain #COVID19.

But we cannot assume the same will be true in the northern hemisphere flu season"-@DrTedros

"The co-circulation of #influenza and #COVID19 may present challenges for health systems and health facilities, since both diseases present with many similar symptoms"-@DrTedros

"For that reason, WHO is working with countries to take a holistic approach to the preparedness, prevention, control and treatment of all respiratory diseases, including #influenza and #COVID19"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1317128159670710273?s=20

"Many of the same measures that are effective in preventing #COVID19 are also effective for preventing #influenza, including physical distancing, #handhygiene, covering coughs, ventilation and masks"-@DrTedros

"And although we don’t yet have a safe and effective vaccine for #COVID19, we do have safe and effective vaccines for #influenza"-@DrTedros #VaccinesWork

"WHO recommends #influenza vaccination for five target groups:
🤰 pregnant women
🫀 people with underlying health conditions
👴 older adults
👩‍⚕️ #healthworkers
🧒 children.

These groups remain important targets for influenza vaccination"-@DrTedros

"However, one of the challenges we now face is that the demand for #influenza vaccines may outstrip supply in some countries"-@DrTedros

"The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization has therefore recommended that, among the five risk groups, #healthworkers and older adults are the highest priority groups for #influenza vaccination during the #COVID19 pandemic"-@DrTedros

"Another under-utilized tool is the use of antivirals to treat people with #influenza. We encourage all countries to use all the tools at their disposal"-@DrTedros

"Today is #WorldHypertensionDay.

Today has a personal resonance for me, because I am one of the 1.13 billion people globally living with #hypertension.

I have access to good medical care. But many others who live with hypertension are not so lucky"-@DrTedros #BeatNCDs

"Globally, 9 out of 10 people with #hypertension don’t have it under control, and 2 in 5 people with hypertension don’t even know they have it"-@DrTedros #WorldHypertensionDay #BeatNCDs

"People with #hypertension are at increased risk of heart disease, kidney damage and stroke, as well severe disease and death from #COVID19, and the #COVID19 pandemic has disrupted services for hypertension in more than half of countries"-@DrTedros

"To support countries to take action against cardiovascular diseases, WHO has developed the HEARTS package, which outlines the six key ingredients for addressing threats to heart health, including hypertension"-@DrTedros

"The #COVID19 pandemic will end. But more than 1 billion people will still live with #hypertension. That’s why WHO’s vision remains the highest attainable standard of health for everyone, everywhere"-@DrTedros

The full remarks by @DrTedros 👇 bit.ly/3575rVo