Thread by @kakape

"Almost 4 million cases were reported to who last week”, says @DrTedros at @WHO presser on #covid19. “On current trends, we expect the total number of cases to pass 200 million within the next two weeks. And we know that is an underestimate.”

@DrTedros @WHO "On average, in five of @WHO’s six regions infections have increased by 80%, or nearly doubled over the past four weeks”, says @drtedros.
“In Africa deaths have increased by 80% over the same period. Much of this increase is being driven by the highly transmissible Delta variant"

@DrTedros @WHO "So far, four variants of concern have emerged and there will be more as long as the virus continues to spread”, says @drtedros
"The rise is also driven by increased social mixing and mobility. The inconsistent use of public health and social measures and inequitable vaccine use"

@DrTedros @WHO “Hard won gains are in jeopardy of being lost and health systems in many countries are being overwhelmed”, says @drtedros.
"29 countries have high and rising oxygen needs, and many countries have inadequate supplies of basic equipment to protect frontline health workers."

@DrTedros @WHO “We need more”, says @drtedros.
“We need stronger surveillance. We need more strategic testing to improve the global understanding of where the virus is, where public health interventions are most needed, and to isolate cases and reduce transmission."

@DrTedros @WHO “@WHO’s goal remains to support every country to vaccinate
at least 10% of its population by the end of September,
at least 40% by the end of this year
and 70% by the middle of next year”, says @drtedros.
"We are a long way off achieving those targets."

@DrTedros @WHO "So far,
just over half of countries have fully vaccinated 10% of their population,
less than a quarter of countries have vaccinated 40%
and only three countries have vaccinated 70%”, says @drtedros.

@DrTedros @WHO “The global distribution of vaccines remains unjust. All regions are at risk, but none more so than Africa. ”, says @drtedros.
“On current trends, nearly 70% of African countries will not reach the 10% vaccination target by the end of September."

@DrTedros @WHO Around 3.5 to 4 million doses are administered weekly in Africa, says @DrTedros.
“But to meet the September target this must rise to 21 million doses, at the very least, each week. Many African countries are prepared well to roll out vaccines, but the vaccines have not arrived."

@DrTedros @WHO Q whether Tedros’ visit to the Olympic Games in Tokyo sent the wrong message.
“There's a very comprehensive set of measures in place to manage any risks of transmission” at the Olympics says @DrMikeRyan. The trip "was to highlight the need for the world to come together”.

@DrTedros @WHO @DrMikeRyan “The true drivers of this pandemic are not within the Olympic Games”, says @DrMikeRyan. “They are really related to the deep inequities we have in the distribution and availability of vaccine, deep inequities in health that we have around the world."

@DrTedros @WHO @DrMikeRyan Q: Is delta variant more dangerous for children?
“Let me be very clear: We are not seeing the Delta variant specifically target children”, says @mvankerkhove. But variant will spread where there is social mixing, less vaccination, etc.

@DrTedros @WHO @DrMikeRyan @mvankerkhove Delta is the most transmissible #SARSCoV2 virus to date, says @mvankerkhove.
"But this will not be the last virus variant that you hear us talking about."
“The virus will likely become more transmissible, because this is what viruses do, they evolve, they change over time."

@DrTedros @WHO @DrMikeRyan @mvankerkhove "People keep asking for magic dust. It doesn't exist”, says @DrMikeRyan.
“Only magic dust we do have is vaccination. Problem is, we're not sprinkling that evenly around the world, and we're working against ourselves."

@DrTedros @WHO @DrMikeRyan @mvankerkhove “Delta is a warning”, says @DrMikeRyan.
“It's a warning that this virus is evolving. But it's also a call to action: That we need to move now, before more dangerous variants emerge."