Thread by @WHO

Media briefing on #COVID19 with @DrTedros pscp.tv/w/coFOPzI2MTAy…

"This is not the time for complacency.

While we continue to receive encouraging news about #COVID19 vaccines & remain cautiously optimistic about the potential for new tools to start to arrive in the coming months"-@DrTedros

"Right now we are extremely concerned by the surge in #COVID19 cases we’re seeing in some countries. Particularly in Europe and the Americas, #healthworkers and health systems are being pushed to the breaking point"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1328374532768473092?s=20

"WHO has issued guidance & tools to increase capacity for the medical & public health workforce & supplies & facilities to manage #COVID19 patients.
WHO has 150 emergency medical teams assisting countries in the planning & implementation of their emergency responses"-@DrTedros

"WHO & partners are working with governments & health leaders to ensure that there is cover for #healthworkers that are sick.

That there are enough beds for #COVID19 patients & for essential health services to continue safely"-@DrTedros

"That there are enough masks, gloves & other protective equipment.

That governments have access to enough tests, therapeutics & supplies to cope with demand now.

That health systems will be ready when safe & effective vaccines are rolled out"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1328375197959938050?s=20

"#HealthWorkers on the frontlines have been stretched for months. They are exhausted.

We must do all we can to protect them, especially during this period when the virus is spiking and patients are filling hospital beds"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"In this moment when some governments have put all of society restrictions in place, there is once again a narrow window of time to strengthen key systems"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"We’ve seen that those countries which invested in #COVID19 case finding, care and isolation, cluster investigations, adequate testing with rapid results, contact tracing and supported quarantine are facing much less disruption"-@DrTedros

"Cluster investigations and contract tracing are part of the bedrock of a successful public health response.
These actions help prevent individual #COVID19 cases from becoming clusters, and clusters turning into community transmission"-@DrTedros

"During recent #Ebola outbreaks, the #DRC and WHO have invested in people and trained up a sizeable number of contract tracers who work closely with local leaders and communities"-@DrTedros

"And in just two days, in part down to active case finding and contact tracing, they will be able - I hope - to call an end to the most recent #Ebola outbreak"-@DrTedros #DRC

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1328376354765672452?s=20

"As countries take extreme measures to curb the rapid spread of #COVID19, now is the time to invest in the systems that will prevent further waves of the virus"-@DrTedros

"Invest in a well trained & protected public health workforce so that you have enough contact tracers in place & ensure that those who are sick can isolate away from others & contacts are identified, notified & managed properly"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1328376782664454145?s=20

"And where #COVID19 cases are starting to come down, keep investing so that you’re prepared"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1328377074491531264?s=20

"This is a dangerous virus, which can attack every system in the body.

Those countries that are letting the virus run unchecked are playing with fire"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"1⃣there will be further needless deaths & suffering
2⃣we are seeing a significant number of people experiencing long-term effects of the virus
3⃣👩‍⚕️🧑‍⚕️👨‍⚕️ are facing extreme #mentalhealth pressure & cases are severely burdening health systems in too many countries"-@DrTedros

"#HealthWorkers went into medicine to save lives.

We must avoid putting them into situation where they have to make impossible choices about who gets care and who doesn’t"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"We need to do everything we can to support #healthworkers, keep schools open, protect the vulnerable and safeguarding the economy"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"From calling up students, volunteers & even national guards to support the health response in times of crisis, to putting strict measures in place that allow pressure to be removed from the health system"-@DrTedros #COVID19

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1328378289438806017?s=20

"There is no excuse for inaction.

My message is very clear: act fast, act now, act decisively"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"A laissez-faire attitude to the virus – not using the full range of tools available – leads to death, suffering and hurts livelihoods and economies.

It’s not a choice between lives or livelihoods. The quickest way to open up economies is to defeat the virus"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"Last week, leaders came together at both the #WHA73 and the @ParisPeaceForum.

High on the agenda was the ACT-Accelerator & ensuring equitable access to new rapid tests, therapeutics and #COVID19 vaccines"-@DrTedros

"The @EU_Commission, France, Spain, The Republic of Korea and the @gatesfoundation pledged $360 million to COVAX, the vaccines pillar of the ACT-Accelerator.

New contributions bring the total committed to $5.1 billion"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #ACTogether

"This is very substantial, but to ensure that tools are rolled out quickly across the 🌍 so that we save lives, stabilize health systems & drive a truly global recovery, another $4.2 billion is needed urgently & a further $23.9 billion will be required in 2021"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"With countries spending trillions to prop up economies, COVAX represents the best possible deal as it will mean a quicker recovery for all and an end to stimulus"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #ACTogether

"@g20org leaders will meet this weekend.

This is an opportunity for them to commit financially & politically to the ACT-Accelerator & COVAX so that together we can end this pandemic quickly.

It’s also a moment for us to strive for the 🌍 we want"-@DrTedros #ACTogether #COVID19

"This cannot be business as usual.

The time has come for a fundamental shift toward health being seen as an investment, rather than a cost, and the foundation of productive, resilient and stable economies"-@DrTedros #ACTogether

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1328380222371205120?s=20

"To reflect this, last week I launched a new Council on the Economics of #HealthForAll, to be chaired by distinguished economist @MazzucatoM, to put universal health coverage at the centre of how we think about value creation and economic growth"-@DrTedros

"Health like the climate crisis, inequality and conflict cannot be tackled in siloes.

A new collective way forward is needed to ensure that we deliver on the promises of the past and tackle these intertwined challenges together"-@DrTedros #ACTogether

The full remarks by @DrTedros 👇 bit.ly/3nph8y8