WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 - 10 April 2020
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We are particularly concerned by the large numbers of infections reported among health workers.
In some countries there are reports of more than 10 percent of health workers being infected. This is an alarming trend.
When health workers are at risk, we’re all at risk.
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On Wednesday I mentioned the new United Nations Supply Chain Task Force, to coordinate and scale up the procurement and distribution of personal protective equipment, lab diagnostics and oxygen to the countries that need it most.
This initiative will be coordinated by WHO and the World Food Programme, building on existing collaboration between multiple partners from within and outside the UN.
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We estimate this supply chain may need to cover more than 30% of the world’s needs in the acute phase of the pandemic.
Every month, we will need to ship at least 100 million medical masks and gloves;
up to 25 million N95 respirators, gowns and face-shields;
up to 2.5 million diagnostic tests;
and large quantities of oxygen concentrators and other equipment for clinical care.
To move these supplies around the world, the World Food Programme will deploy eight 747 aircraft, eight medium-sized cargo aircraft, and several smaller passenger planes to move humanitarian workers, technical staff, trainers and other personnel.
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