Thread by @WHO

Media briefing on #COVID19 with @DrTedros pscp.tv/w/csNBXDI2MTAy…

"In our first briefing of 2021, I want to take a quick step back & tell you what’s going to be coming up in the next few weeks. The #COVID19 pandemic is still a major public health crisis. We’re in a race to save lives, livelihoods & end this pandemic"-@DrTedros

"However, WHO is not just fighting the #COVID19 pandemic, we’re fighting numerous disease outbreaks across the world, picking up and analysing hundreds of potential signals every week"-@DrTedros

"Our work goes far beyond emergencies. We work to improve human health in all its aspects from birth to old age. As shown in the past year, WHO is working night & day to accelerate science, provide solutions to challenges on the ground & build global solidarity"-@DrTedros

"This is as important for tackling the #COVID19 pandemic as it is for getting essential services back up and running again"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1346503080817405952?s=20

"From preventing mothers & their children dying in child birth, to tackling silent emergencies like antimicrobial resistance & mental health, to the prevention, screening & control of HIV, TB, malaria & neglected tropical diseases"-@DrTedros #HealthForAll

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1346503219749511174?s=20

"This month for example is #cervicalcancer awareness month, where WHO is working with partners around the world to accelerate the first global health strategy for the elimination of a cancer"-@DrTedros #BeatNCDs

"We’ve learned a lot in the last year; not least that health is an investment in overall development, critical for thriving economies and a key pillar of national security.

Health cannot be an after-thought when we have an emergency"-@DrTedros #HealthForAll

"We must ensure truly integrated #primaryhealthcare systems that effectively prevent, screen & treat infectious disease & noncommunicable diseases like diabetes, cancer & heart & lung disease.
The latter collectively lead to the death of over 40M people every year"-@DrTedros

"The #COVID19 pandemic has shown us once again how a new infectious virus puts those with underlying conditions at highest risk of dying.
And those countries that have high numbers of people with health conditions put extra stress on the health system"-@DrTedros

"And we must work with those focused on the climate crisis, which directly impacts health.

Ultimately we need to invest in preparedness and surveillance to stop the next pandemic and ensure that everyone has access to quality health services"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1346504631271223296?s=20

"In the year ahead, scientists and public health experts from inside and outside WHO will continue to work with us to break down the latest science and innovations and putting forward solutions so that we can build back greener and stronger health systems"-@DrTedros

"We have entered a new phase of the #COVID19 pandemic, where solidarity is needed like never before.

We are in a race to save lives right now and as my colleague @DrMikeRyan said back in March last year, it’s important in any crisis to act fast and have no regrets"-@DrTedros

"Caseloads are so high in several countries that hospitals and intensive care units are filling up to dangerous levels"-@DrTedros #COVID19

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1346505247330627586?s=20

"For some countries, during the recent holiday period and cold weather, people mixed indoors more, which we know is riskier and will have consequences.
New variants, which appear to be more transmissible, are exacerbating the situation"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"We call on all countries to increase testing and sequencing of the virus so that we can monitor and respond effectively to any changes.
Ultimately, countries have to consider their epidemiological situation and take appropriate measures based on the data"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"It’s a tough balancing act but saving lives, protecting #healthworkers & health systems must come first. I know it’s tiring, but it’s many times worse for those working or being treated in an overcrowded 🏥, or for people who have had their cancer treatment postponed"-@DrTedros

"So we must act for the most vulnerable that need help right now. As well as minimising contacts in this critical period, governments must support people who have to isolate or quarantine"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"Just as governments have generated stimulus to keep economies going, it’s important to find innovative ways to offer people the chance to isolate safely away from others"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"To break chains of #COVID19 transmission, we must identify and find those who are infected, provide the care they need and help them truly isolate safely"-@DrTedros

"We’re in a race to prevent infections, bring cases down, protect health systems and safe lives while rolling out highly effective and safe vaccines to high-risk populations.

This is not easy - these are the hard miles we must tread together"-@DrTedros #ACTogether #COVID19

"If we #ACTogether we can win both races and get ahead of the virus while also limiting the opportunity for the virus to mutate further and threaten the health tools we currently have"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"Last week, WHO issued its first Emergency Use Listing for a #COVID19 vaccine – the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1344738651247407104?s=20

"And yesterday, it was also encouraging to see the Astra-Zeneca vaccine rollout begin in the first country"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #ACTogether

"One year on from WHO issuing its first Disease Outbreak News report about this virus, more than 30 countries have started vaccinating their high-risk populations with various #COVID19 vaccines"-@DrTedros #ACTogether

"The scientific community has set a new standard for vaccine development.

Now the international community must set a new standard for access"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #ACTogether

"COVAX has been backed by 190 countries and economies and I want to see all manufacturers channel supply to COVAX quickly so that rollouts can begin and those at high-risk are protected around the world"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #ACTogether

"We owe it morally to #healthworkers everywhere who have been fighting the #COVID19 pandemic around the clock for the best part of a year, to vaccinate them all as soon as possible"-@DrTedros #ACTogether

"People must come first over short-term profits. It’s in countries self-interest to shun vaccine nationalism"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #ACTogether

"Vaccinating #healthworkers and those at high risk of serious disease is the fastest way to stablise health systems, ensure all essential health services are up and running and that a truly global economic recovery can take place"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #ACTogether

"I urge all governments to work together and live up to their commitments to equitable distribution globally and all pharmaceutical groups to boost supply as quickly as possible and to fully participate in COVAX"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #ACTogether

"The hundred-hundred initiative driven by WHO, @UNICEF and the @WorldBank is supporting over 100 countries to conduct rapid readiness assessments and develop country-specific plans for vaccines and other #COVID19 tools"-@DrTedros #ACTogether

"So far 90+ countries have already completed the assessments & our teams are working around the ⏰ to ensure that govts. & health systems are ready for global vaccine rollout but we need consistent, predictable, affordable supply of safe & effective #COVID19 vaccines"-@DrTedros

"Morally, economically, socially and for global security, we must #ACTogether right now to ensure equitable rollout"-@DrTedros #COVID19

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1346508245872091137?s=20

"Following the Emergency Use Listing last week, the SAGE group met today to discuss policy recommendations for the use of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. I would like to invite the chair Dr. Alejandro Cravioto to tell us about the recommendations"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/DrTedros/status/1346486505754259458?s=20

"Every country needs to row in unison in the same direction to beat the #COVID19 pandemic.

Solidarity, multilateralism and collaboration are key so that we win the race against this pandemic quickly and escape these stormy waters together"-@DrTedros #ACTogether

"Lastly, over the past 24 hours, members of the international scientific team on #COVID19 virus origins began traveling from their home countries to #China"-@DrTedros

"This was as per arrangements jointly developed between WHO, the Chinese government, and countries for which the team was meant to travel through on their way to Wuhan"-@DrTedros #COVID19

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1346509045910425613?s=20

"Today we learned that Chinese officials have not yet finalised the necessary permissions for the team’s arrival in #China. I am very disappointed with this news given that two members had already begun their journeys & others were not able to travel at the last minute"-@DrTedros

"But I've been in contact with senior Chinese officials & I have once again made clear that the mission is a priority for WHO & the international team"-@DrTedros #COVID19

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1346509281215057922?s=20

"I've been assured that #China is speeding up the internal procedure for the earliest possible deployment. We are eager to get the mission underway as soon as possible"-@DrTedros #COVID19

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1346509779917819905?s=20

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