Thread by @WHO

Media briefing on #COVID19 with @DrTedros pscp.tv/w/cmWmcDI2MTAy…

"Last week saw the highest number of #COVID19 cases reported so far.
Many countries in the northern hemisphere are seeing a concerning rise in cases & hospitalisations.
And ICUs are filling up to capacity in some places, particularly in Europe & North America."-@DrTedros

"Over the weekend, a number of leaders critically evaluated their #COVID19 situation and took action to limit the spread of the virus."-@DrTedros

"We understand the #COVID19 pandemic fatigue that people are feeling.
It takes a mental and physical toll on everyone."-@DrTedros

"Working from home, children being schooled remotely, not being able to celebrate milestones with friends and family or not being there to mourn loved ones – it’s tough and the #COVID19 fatigue is real.
But we cannot give up. We must not give up."-@DrTedros

"Leaders must balance the #COVID19 disruption to lives and livelihoods with the need to protect health workers and health systems as intensive care fills up."-@DrTedros

"In March, health workers were routinely applauded for the personal sacrifice they were making to save lives.
Many of those #HealthWorkers, who have themselves gone through immense stress & trauma, are still on the frontlines, facing a fresh wave of new patients"-@DrTedros

"We must do all we can to protect #HealthWorkers, and the best way to do that is for all of us to take every precaution we can to reduce the risk of #COVID19 transmission, for ourselves and others."-@DrTedros

"No one wants more so-called #COVID19 lockdowns. But if we want to avoid them, we all have to play our part."
-@DrTedros

"We cannot have the economic recovery we want and live our lives the way we did before the #COVID19 pandemic."
-@DrTedros

"We can keep our kids in school, we can keep businesses open, we can preserve lives and livelihoods. We can do it.
But we must all make trade-offs, compromises and sacrifices."-@DrTedros on #COVID19

"For individuals, families & communities, that means staying at home & especially if you’ve been exposed to a #COVID19 case"-@DrTedros

"Furthermore, you continue to
✅ maintain physical distance
✅ #WearAMask
✅ cleaning your hands regularly
✅ coughing away from others
✅ avoiding crowds or meeting friends and family outside."
-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1320774270952288257?s=20

"For governments, it means doing the same things we have been calling for since day one: know your #COVID19 epidemic.
✅ Break the chains of transmission.
✅ Test extensively.
✅ Isolate and care for cases.
✅ Trace & provide supported quarantine for all contacts."-@DrTedros

"With these measures, you can catch-up to this virus, you can get ahead of this virus, and you can stay ahead of this virus. We say this because we have seen in many places around the world get ahead and stay ahead of the virus"-@DrTedros on #COVID19

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1320774752018042883?s=20

"There aren’t magic solutions to this #COVID19 outbreak, just hard work from leaders at all levels of societies, health workers, contact tracers and individuals."-@DrTedros

"And then, once you have the upper hand, it’s important to strengthen health systems, the health workforce and contact tracing systems so that the virus doesn’t take hold again."-@DrTedros on #COVID19

"Science continues to tell us the truth about this virus.
How to contain it, suppress it and stop it from returning, and how to save lives among those it reaches."-@DrTedros on #COVID19

"Many countries and cities have followed the science, suppressed the virus and minimized deaths."-@DrTedros on #COVID19

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1320775655697633281?s=20

"From Dakar to Melbourne, Milan to Islamabad, New York to Beijing.
When leaders act quickly and deliberately, the virus can be suppressed."-@DrTedros on #COVID19

"For leaders, as my colleague @DrMikeRyan said back in March, the most important thing to do is to “move fast, have no regrets.”"-@DrTedros on #COVID19

"But where there has been political division at the national level; where there has been blatant disrespect for science and health professionals, confusion has spread and #COVID19 cases and deaths have mounted."-@DrTedros

"This is why I have said repeatedly: stop the politicisation of #COVID19."-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1320776727648493569?s=20

"A pandemic is not a political football. Wishful thinking or deliberate diversion will not prevent transmissions or save lives.
What will save lives is science, solutions and solidarity."-@DrTedros on #COVID19

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1320776885526274049?s=20

"Finally, last week WHO conducted its first global e-learning course on health and migration, addressing a critical and often neglected topic of global health."-@DrTedros

"The course included being directly connected live with health and migration projects on the ground so that they could receive direct feedback from those in the field."-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1320777378713448449?s=20

"There were people attending from 122 different countries worldwide and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all involved in this course."-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1320777378713448449?s=20

"All of public health suffers when any community is excluded.
It's vital that all countries include refugees and migrants in their national policies as part of their commitment to #HealthForAll."-@DrTedros

"I hope the knowledge gained through this course will act as a catalyst for health policies that include migrants and refugee communities.
#HealthForAll, means all."-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1320777378713448449?s=20

"We cannot give up... We must not give up...
The fight back against this #COVID19 pandemic is everyone’s business."

Full text of @DrTedros' opening remarks at the media briefing on #COVID19 - 26 October 2020 bit.ly/35EMcTD