Thread by @WHO

LIVE: Media briefing on #COVID19 and other global health issues with @DrTedros. twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…

@DrTedros "Globally reported #COVID19 cases have increased nearly 30% over the past two weeks. 4 out of 6 of the WHO sub-regions saw cases increase in the last week"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "In Europe and America, BA.4 and BA.5 are driving waves. In countries like India a new sub lineage of BA.2.75 has also been detected which we’re following"-@DrTedros #COVID19

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1544413181027778561?s=20&t=oMz48-0Yl0IPZnyTKWq5yQ

@DrTedros "Compounding the challenge are a number of factors:
1️⃣ testing has reduced in many countries. This obscures the true picture of an evolving virus & the real burden of #COVID19. It also means that treatments aren't given early enough to prevent serious illness/death"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "2️⃣ new treatments, especially promising new oral antivirals, are still not reaching low and low-middle income countries, depriving whole populations that need them"-@DrTedros #COVID19

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1544675781946793990?s=20&t=7pJ84CLuaVBkVKUUur9Veg

@DrTedros "3️⃣ as the #COVID19 virus evolves, vaccines protection – while is still really effective at preventing serious disease and death – does wane. Decreasing immunity underscores the importance of boosters, especially for the most at-risk"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1544675882412933120?s=20&t=7pJ84CLuaVBkVKUUur9Veg

@DrTedros "4️⃣ each wave of the virus leaves more people with long-COVID or post-COVID condition. This obviously impacts individuals and their families but it also puts an extra burden on health systems, the wider economy and society-at-large"-@DrTedros #COVID19

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1544676027343015936?s=20&t=7pJ84CLuaVBkVKUUur9Veg

@DrTedros "Governments, scientists, manufacturers, WHO & citizens themselves all have their part to play. Essential steps to take include:
1️⃣ vaccinate & boost those at most risk. This includes older people, people with chronic illnesses, the immunocompromised and health workers"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "2️⃣ make new oral antivirals and other treatments available to all. Working with @GlobalFund and @UNICEF, WHO has developed an allocation mechanism to support countries as antivirals become available"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #ACTogether

@DrTedros @GlobalFund @UNICEF "So far, 20 countries have accepted allocations of Molnupiravir, which has moved into distribution. For Nirmatrelvir-Ritonavir, – or Paxlovid - 43 countries have expressed interest"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #ACTogether

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1544676660804554752?s=20&t=7pJ84CLuaVBkVKUUur9Veg

@DrTedros @GlobalFund @UNICEF "However, our organizations are still trying to finalize with Pfizer the appropriate terms and conditions for low- and middle-income countries"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #ACTogether

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1544676780640018432?s=20&t=7pJ84CLuaVBkVKUUur9Veg

@DrTedros @GlobalFund @UNICEF "This is delaying access and some countries may choose to wait for a generic version of the antiviral, probably available only early 2023 and this will cost lives"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #ACTogether

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1544676878589599745?s=20&t=7pJ84CLuaVBkVKUUur9Veg

@DrTedros @GlobalFund @UNICEF "I call on @pfizer to work closely with health agencies and countries to ensure its new oral antiviral is available quickly and effectively"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #ACTogether

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1544676955517239296?s=20&t=7pJ84CLuaVBkVKUUur9Veg

@DrTedros @GlobalFund @UNICEF @pfizer "3️⃣ especially if you’re in a place where #COVID19 cases are on the rise, use tried & tested public health measures to mitigate risk. For example, if you’re in a crowded place or inside & there’s poor ventilation, put on a mask. And if you’re sick, & you can, stay home"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @GlobalFund @UNICEF @pfizer "4️⃣ it is crucial to accelerate research and development into next generation vaccines, tests and treatments. Through the Solidarity Trials, WHO can ensure maximum efficiency of clinical trials so that new tools are developed quicker"-@DrTedros #COVID19

@DrTedros @GlobalFund @UNICEF @pfizer "We don’t know how the next variant will be like. This requires that we apply the tools we have now and that we develop the next generation of counter measures quickly"-@DrTedros #COVID19

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1544677435190419458?s=20&t=7pJ84CLuaVBkVKUUur9Veg

@DrTedros @GlobalFund @UNICEF @pfizer "5️⃣ we continue to work to strengthen the global health architecture for health emergency and response at all levels"-@DrTedros #COVID19

@DrTedros @GlobalFund @UNICEF @pfizer "We welcome the news about the creation of the financial intermediary fund, which will focus on strengthening pandemic prevention, preparedness & response capacities. It will operate at a national, regional & 🌍 level, with a focus on low- & middle-income countries"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @GlobalFund @UNICEF @pfizer "WHO and the @WorldBank will take the design forward with the founding donors and broader stakeholders. We hope the fund will expand and that this will become an important component of a comprehensive financing solution for health emergencies"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @GlobalFund @UNICEF @pfizer @WorldBank "Also, it is important that the #PandemicAccord process continues at pace. This remains a generational opportunity to improve how countries prepare for and respond to new pathogens"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @GlobalFund @UNICEF @pfizer @WorldBank "On #monkeypox, I continue to be concerned by the scale and spread of the virus. Across the world, there has now been more than 6,000 cases recorded in 58 countries"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @GlobalFund @UNICEF @pfizer @WorldBank "Testing remains a challenge and it’s highly probable that there are a significant number of cases not being picked up. Europe is the current epicentre of the outbreak, recording more than 80 percent of #monkeypox cases globally"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1544678206824906757?s=20&t=7pJ84CLuaVBkVKUUur9Veg

@DrTedros @GlobalFund @UNICEF @pfizer @WorldBank "In Africa, cases are appearing in countries not previously affected and record numbers are being recorded in places which have previous experience with #monkeypox"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1544678340346449921?s=20&t=7pJ84CLuaVBkVKUUur9Veg

@DrTedros @GlobalFund @UNICEF @pfizer @WorldBank "My teams are following the data, I plan to reconvene the Emergency Committee so they're updated on the current epidemiology & evolution of the #monkeypox outbreak, & implementation of counter measures. I'll bring them together in the week of 18 Jul or sooner if needed"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @GlobalFund @UNICEF @pfizer @WorldBank "WHO is working with countries and vaccine manufacturers to coordinate the sharing of vaccine, which are currently scarce and need to be accessible to the most at risk people"-@DrTedros #monkeypox

@DrTedros @GlobalFund @UNICEF @pfizer @WorldBank "WHO is also working closely with civil society and LGBTQI+ community, especially to break the stigma around the virus and spread information so people can protect themselves"-@DrTedros #monkeypox

@DrTedros @GlobalFund @UNICEF @pfizer @WorldBank "I want to particularly commend those that are sharing videos online via social media channels talking about their symptoms and experiences with #monkeypox. This is a positive way to break down the stigma about a virus that can affect anyone"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @GlobalFund @UNICEF @pfizer @WorldBank "In #Syria, the humanitarian needs are at their highest level since the war started 11 years ago. WHO works across the country to provide lifesaving health support"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @GlobalFund @UNICEF @pfizer @WorldBank "In the northwest of the country [#Syria], some 4.4 million people, including more than 3.5 million women and children, are in need of humanitarian assistance. They depend on the cross-border access for their healthcare, their vaccines and medicines"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @GlobalFund @UNICEF @pfizer @WorldBank "We hope the Security Council will continue to find agreement to preserve the health and welfare of this highly vulnerable population"-@DrTedros #Syria

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1544679475677388800?s=20&t=7pJ84CLuaVBkVKUUur9Veg