Thread by @WHO

Media briefing on #COVID19 with @DrTedros pscp.tv/w/cmGeIDI2MTAy…

"We are at a critical juncture in the #COVID19 pandemic, particularly in the northern hemisphere.

The next few months are going to be very tough and some countries are on a dangerous track"-@DrTedros

"Too many countries are seeing an exponential increase in #COVID19 cases and that is now leading to hospitals and intensive care units running close or above capacity and we’re still only in October"-@DrTedros

"We urge leaders to take immediate action, to prevent further unnecessary deaths, essential health services from collapsing and schools shutting again.

As I said it in February and I’m repeating it today: this is not a drill"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"We’re calling on governments to carry out 5⃣ key actions today.

1⃣ assess the current #COVID19 outbreak situation in your country based on the latest data you have to hand.

Conduct honest analysis and consider the good, the bad and the ugly"-@DrTedros

"I have a specific message for those countries that have successfully brought #COVID19 transmission under control: now is the time to double down to keep transmission at a low level, be vigilant, be ready to identify cases & clusters & take quick action"-@DrTedros

"Do not allow the virus to take hold again"-@DrTedros #COVID19

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1319665213164130304?s=20

"2⃣ for those countries where #COVID19 cases, hospitalizations and intensive care units' rates are rising, make the necessary adjustments and course correct as quickly as possible.

Making changes when needed shows leadership and strength"-@DrTedros

"3⃣ it’s important to be clear and honest with the public about the status of the #COVID19 pandemic in your country and what is needed from every citizen to get through this pandemic together"-@DrTedros

"4⃣put systems in place to make it easier for citizens to comply with the measures that are advised.
If people are told to isolate or quarantine, or businesses have to close temporarily, govts need to do everything they can to assist individuals, families & businesses"-@DrTedros

"5⃣the next few months for many people will be difficult.

There are incredible stories of hope and resilience of people and businesses responding creatively to the #COVID19 outbreak and we need to share these widely"-@DrTedros

"Governments need to carry out the basic steps of speaking to people who are infected with the virus and their contacts and giving them specific instructions on what to do next"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"If governments are able to hone their contact tracing systems & focus on isolating all cases & quarantining contacts, then mandatory #StayAtHome orders for everyone can be avoided"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"We’ve seen many times from around the world that it’s never too late for leaders to act and turn the #COVID19 outbreak around"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1319666433090007040?s=20

"Key to a united front against the virus is sharing resources equitably. Oxygen is one of the most essential medicines for saving patients with #COVID19. Many countries simply don't have enough oxygen available to assist sick patients as they struggle to breathe"-@DrTedros

"Estimates suggest that some of the poorest countries may have just 5%-20% of the oxygen that they need for patient care. Through the #COVID19 pandemic, the demand for oxygen has grown exponentially"-@DrTedros

"Back in June, when there were approximately 140,000 new #COVID19 cases a day, the global need for oxygen was estimated to be approximately 88,000 large cylinders each day across the world"-@DrTedros

"As daily cases rise around the world to over 400,000, the need for oxygen has gone up to 1.2 million cylinders each day, just in low- and middle-income alone, which is 13 times higher"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"Early in the #COVID19 pandemic, WHO’s approach was to scale up oxygen in the most vulnerable countries by procuring & distributing oxygen concentrators.

This led to over 30,000 concentrators, 40,000 pulse oximeters & patient monitors to reach 121 countries"-@DrTedros

"This includes installing pressure swing adsorption plants that would be able to cover the supply needed for a large hospital and district health facilities in the area"-@DrTedros #COVID19

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1319668402693222401?s=20

"Somalia, Chad and South Sudan had to rely exclusively on oxygen cylinders from private vendors that are often traveling long distances and come with a high price-tag"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"WHO is working with the ministries of health in these three countries to design oxygen plants fit for their local needs, which will result in sustainable and self sufficient oxygen supply"-@DrTedros #COVID19

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1319669002910748672?s=20

"WHO is committed to working in solidarity with all governments, partners & the private sector to scale up sustainable oxygen supply.
The oxygen project, reflects WHO’s commitment to end-to-end solutions & innovation to do what we do better, cheaper & reach more people"-@DrTedros

"We’re working with partners to harness solar power to run oxygen concentrators in remote places where electricity supply is unreliable, & to reduce costs.
One of the main barriers to medical oxygen is the high transport costs of the cylinders to the health facilities"-@DrTedros

"In Kenya, a private sector company has positioned oxygen plants near clusters of health facilities & uses a milk delivery system to deliver oxygen to more than 140 clinics"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"Incentivizing the business sector to change its approach and model is key to ensuring sustainable oxygen in low- and middle-income countries.

And to be successful the health work force needs to be ready"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"Not only doctors and nurses with experience in caring for severely ill patients; but also biomedical engineers, respiratory therapists, and maintenance staff.

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1319669656102330369?s=20

"Oxygen saves lives of #COVID19 patients, but it'll also save some of the 800,000 children under-5 that die every year of pneumonia & improve the overall safety of surgery.
A better 🌍 means ensuring oxygen is available for all. Where they need it & when they need it"-@DrTedros

"Tomorrow marks #WorldPolioDay and partners around the 🌍, led in particular by @Rotary, are organising events and raising awareness about the need to #EndPolio"-@DrTedros

"Over the summer the 🌍 collectively welcomed Africa’s historic success of ridding the continent of wildpolio virus"-@DrTedros #EndPolio #VaccinesWork

"Thanks to hundreds of thousands of #healthworkers reaching millions of children with safe & effective vaccines across the continent, the world celebrated one of the greatest public health achievements of all time"-@DrTedros #EndPolio #VaccinesWork

"However, while there is #polio anywhere, the 🌍 remains at risk of resurgence. Following suspension of polio & routine immunisation due to the #COVID19 pandemic, vaccination drives have now been restarted"-@DrTedros #EndPolio

"We applaud and encourage governments for doing catch-up campaigns so that no child is left behind and we can soon consign #polio to the history books, alongside smallpox"-@DrTedros #EndPolio

"#Smallpox eradication is a remarkable achievement, not least because it was completed at the heart of the Cold War"-@DrTedros #VaccinesWork

"Health did then & should now always come above politics & it is with sadness that this week we lost one of the great titans of #smallpox eradication with the passing of Dr Mike Lane"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/DrTedros/status/1319280602332286984?s=20

"Dr Lane spent 13 years chasing down the last remnants of #smallpox, finding cases and vaccinating communities in some of the remotest corners of the earth, where smallpox was still endemic"-@DrTedros #VaccinesWork

"At @CDCgov, Dr Lane was the last programme director of the #Smallpox Eradication Program and received many awards, including the US Public Health Service’s Commendation Medal.

For many years, Dr Lane was an advisor to WHO on smallpox"-@DrTedros

"I wish to express my deepest sympathy to Dr Lane’s friends and family. We will continue to honour his legacy"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1319672312103374849?s=20

"Telling stories is as old as human civilization. It helps us understand our problems & can inspire action that changes lives. WHO is proud to announce the second #HealthForAll Film Festival, to cultivate visual storytelling about public health"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1319557364362731520?s=20

"Submissions are open from tomorrow to 30 January 2021.

We look forward to receiving original short films from across the world.

More details are available on our website"-@DrTedros #HealthForAll bit.ly/2TdU2O4