WHO daily presser notes. 2/20
China 74,675 cases total including 2,221 deaths, decline in “confirmed” (e.d. cough cough, no mention of clinically diagnosed today) cases and we are encouraged. Outside china there are 1,076 cases in 26 countries with a total of 7 deaths. In last 24 hours, Iran has reported 5 cases, two of which have died. This is the first report from Iran. Of all cases outside of China, more than half were on the Princess. He spoke to those getting off ship have no symptoms (e.d. keep taking that aspirin and Halls so no symptoms?) and a negative test and no contact with a positive person in the last 14 days. Japan has also advised passengers to stay at home for another 14 days and monitor their temperature (e.d. our US twitter guy is out being a tourist and said nothing of such). WHO’s main role is to coordinate the global response. Our team is on the ground looking at transitivity and actions China has taken… he talks much of coordination/skipped.. …… They are going to have weekly diplomatic meetings in Geneva. That is why no media meeting yesterday. Twice a week we have call with frontline workers to share info on what does and doesn’t work in trmt. We have seen that the earlier pts are treated the better they do. We are also looking forward to two clinical trials of therapeutics prioritized by WHO, one with ?ritonavir? and the other is testing ?remsivir? We expect results in 3 weeks. I have written to 12 executives of PPE companies to ask for their help to ensure supply to protect the health care workers. IT IS TIME FOR SOLIDARITY. Today, we had a call with faith based organizations, another way we are reaching communities. We are partnering with Africa CDC to coordinate our efforts to prepare them for the arrival of the virus. That is where we believe there and other countries with weaker health systems the virus could be a serious danger. THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY CONTINUES TO CONTAIN THIS OUTBREAK, let’s not squander this opportunity. (e.d. let’s make a drinking game of when he says this and solidarity?) This window will close.
Q&A
Re decision of Russia to refuse Chinese citizens and discharged pt numbers. A. 30 countries have reported to us they are taking some travel measures. We publish to all to share info with other countries. Don’t have discharge numbers, we’ll get back to you.
Q ? A. # of cases in S Korea today are from distinct clusters which have been identified. Although the numbers seems quite high, they are linked to known existing outbreaks so that doesn’t change the stance in the global epidemiology, it does signal that the Koreans are following up very closely. Total is 104, and 22 cases today. With measures they can take, the numbers are manageable. It is an early stage
Reporter from Africa asks if the Chloroquine drug for malaria works for COVID A. There is no proven treatment, there are ongoing clinical trials. Priority by Who are ?? Loponivir and ?? and Resmidivir and resmidivir. As to chloroquine, there is no proof it is effective.
Re action on Princess, do you feel quarantine was to aid in keeping the infection from others on board or more about ensuring the infection was more to keep the virus off the mainland? A. Our understanding is to contain on the ship first. This is priority. That is why they were heavily following contacts. It is both though.
Japanese reporter.. re two deaths.. several experts have questioned how quarantine done. What do we know so far in terms of infection control on the ship was it done properly A. The main objective was to contain the virus and doing drastic infection and control to avoid close contact and transmission. And now second phase. No symptoms and negative PCR and no contact with positive in last 14 days, and now have been asked to continue to isolate at home. This is what they are doing now. And 2 people who died they were over 80 and had underlying conditions and considering there were more than 600 cases, and this is 2 deaths. Considering fatality rate and underlying conditions, that is where we expect the virus. Having deaths, considering fatality rate we have to expect.
FEED LOST ON ALL CHANNELS AND LINKS – finally found the full presser at link below
Re expert team ..have they communicated with you re origin of virus, and many workers going back to work, and what is your thought on that. treatment A. We expect to have recommendations on what they covered there as soon as they have finished their field work. As soon as they finish, we will have their recommendations. As to source of the virus, much speculation. We at WHO we rely on evidence. There is a lot of information and conspiracy theory and we should not trust until science and evidence and we get it from experts
Has WHO gotten enough money for this emergency A. We have put out for 675 million US dollars. Some pledges but considering urgency and dangerous enemy, we are surprised it is not something we expect. I would like to take this call on to assist. The small number in the rest of the world is a small opportunity. We need to attack while small, if we don’t hit now with window of opportunity. It’s not being treated as public enemy #1 and I call upon the international community to respond while we have time to respond. The finance numbers given now are really low.
Re vaccines A. We need to contain.. our objective is to contain. There is a chance to do so with window of opportunity While using this to hammer, we need to invest in vaccines We need to balance to contain now and prepare for the future for investing in the vaccine. Matter of balance. Also to help weak countries, this is most important part of the plan to detect and prepare for them.
Re WHO not being fast enough to quell misinformation, and some folks not invited to scientific forums last week A. As to misinformation, what I would ask is we have to take it seriously and do something. In our discussions with FB and google…they have signed to help us. WHO involvement of scientists, it was an open invitation and anyone can sign in, they are welcome.
Which countries in SE Asia are weakest for outbreak? A. Without mentioning names, all the countries do not have capabilities to detect and contain. We need to fund and bring expertise. They are known, more support needed in this area.
END OF PRESSER
World Health Organization (WHO) on Twitter
Huh?
