Thread by @WHO

Media briefing on #COVID19 with @DrTedros pscp.tv/w/c2fy0zI2MTAy…

"Globally, we are now seeing a plateauing in the number of #COVID19 cases and deaths, with declines in most regions including the Americas & Europe, the two worst-affected regions"-@DrTedros

"But it’s an unacceptably high plateau, with more than 5.4 million reported #COVID19 cases and almost 90 thousand deaths last week"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1391773183309750276?s=20

"Any decline is welcome, but we've been here before. Over the past year, many countries have:
-experienced a ⬇️ trend in cases & deaths
-relaxed public health & social measures too quickly
-individuals have let down their guard
only for those hard-won gains to be lost"-@DrTedros

"And #COVID19 cases and deaths are still increasing rapidly in @WHOSEARO region, and there are countries in every region with increasing trends"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1391773752090931204?s=20

"Today, @thewhof is launching the “#TogetherForIndia” appeal to raise funds to support WHO’s work in #India, including the purchase of oxygen, personal protective equipment and medicines"-@DrTedros

donate-covid19.india.who.foundation

"To donate, go to who.foundation, look for the black “Donate” button and select the “#TogetherForIndia” appeal"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1391775088752668673?s=20

"Globally, we are still in a perilous situation. The spread of variants, increased social mixing, the relaxation of public health and social measures and inequitable vaccination are all driving #COVID19 transmission"-@DrTedros

"Yes, vaccines are reducing severe #COVID19 disease and death in countries that are fortunate enough to have them in sufficient quantities, and early results suggest that vaccines might also drive down transmission"-@DrTedros

"But the shocking global disparity in access to #COVID19 vaccines remains one of the biggest risks to ending the pandemic. High- and upper-middle income countries represent 53% of the 🌍’s population, but have received 83% of the 🌍’s vaccines"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

"By contrast, low- and lower-middle income countries account for 47% of the 🌍’s population, but have received just 17% of the 🌍’s vaccines"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1391776209084817416?s=20

"Redressing this global imbalance is an essential part of the solution, but not the only part, and not an immediate solution. We cannot put all our eggs in one basket"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/DrTedros/status/1391448916743360514?s=20

"We have many vaccines for many diseases, but for each of them we still need a combination of vaccines & public health measures. The same is true with #COVID19"-@DrTedros

"Vaccines prevent disease. But we can also prevent infection with public health tools that have been so effective in so many places"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"My message to leaders is, use every tool at your disposal to drive #COVID19 transmission down, right now. Even if your country has a downward trend, now is the time to surge your capacities"-@DrTedros

"Even in countries with the highest #COVID19 vaccination rates, public health capacities must be strengthened to prepare for the possibility of vaccine-evading variants, and for future emergencies"-@DrTedros

"My message to individuals is, every contact you have with someone outside your household is a risk – the level of risk varies according to the type of contact, the duration of contact and the level of transmission where you live"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"Each contact might carry a small risk on its own, but the more contacts, the higher the risk. In many northern hemisphere countries where the weather is warmer, people are getting together for social gatherings"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"In the southern hemisphere, colder temperatures are driving people inside. Both situations carry different types of risk. But when you know your risk, you can lower your risk"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1391777149271613444?s=20

"There'll come a time when we:
-can all take off our masks
-no longer have to keep our distance from each other
-can go safely to concerts, sporting events, rallies & restaurants
as people in some countries are able to do now because they have no #COVID19 transmission"-@DrTedros

"But for most of the 🌍’s population who aren't yet vaccinated, we’re not there yet. To get there, we continue to urge all countries to develop & implement comprehensive national plans, based on the WHO’s Strategic Preparedness & Response Plan"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1391777934340460550?s=20

"How quickly we end the #COVID19 pandemic, & how many sisters & brothers we lose along on the way, depends on how quickly & how fairly we vaccinate a significant proportion of the 🌍 population, & how consistently we all follow proven public health measures"-@DrTedros

The full remarks by @DrTedros at the #COVID19 media briefing - 10 May 2021 ⬇️ bit.ly/3tCDSxv