Admin

Media Statement For Immediate Release Friday, Feb. 28, 2020 Contact: CDC Media Relations (404) 639-3286 CDC Announces Additional COVID-19 Presumptive Positive Cases The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is aware of four new presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 announced by state public health authorities who are currently conducting investigations. California has announced a second possible instance of community spread. Oregon has announced its first possible instance of community spread. The state of Washington has announced two presumptive cases. One is likely travel related. The other is the state’s first possible instance of community spread. Community spread means spread of an illness for which the source of infection is unknown. One previous possible instance of community spread was announced in California on February 26. The four patients tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 in their respective states using the CDC-developed rRT-PCR. They are considered presumptive positive cases pending CDC confirmatory testing. However, CDC and State and local public health authorities are proceeding with public health investigations and response activities as if these were confirmed cases. With both confirmed and presumptive positive cases, CDC recommends healthcare providers follow the Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) or Persons Under Investigation for COVID-19 in Healthcare Settings. These four cases bring the total number of COVID-19 cases detected through the U.S. public health system to 19. The federal government has been working closely with state, local, tribal, and territorial partners, as well as public health partners, to respond to this public health threat. Unprecedented, aggressive efforts have been taken to contain the spread and mitigate the impact of this virus. CDC and federal partners have been preparing for the detection of additional instances of person-to-person spread of COVID-19 for weeks. The federal government will continue to respond aggressively to this rapidly evolving situation. For more information about COVID-19 visit www.cdc.gov/covid19. ###

Media Statement For Immediate Release Friday, Feb. 28, 2020 Contact: CDC Media Relations (404) 639-3286 CDC Announces Additional COVID-19 Presumptive Positive Cases The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is aware of four new presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 announced by state public health authorities who are currently conducting investigations. California has announced a second possible instance of community spread. Oregon has announced its first possible instance of community spread. The state of Washington has announced two presumptive cases. One is likely travel related. The other is the state’s first possible instance of community spread. Community spread means spread of an illness for which the source of infection is unknown. One previous possible instance of community spread was announced in California on February 26. The four patients tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 in their respective states using the CDC-developed rRT-PCR. They are considered presumptive positive cases pending CDC confirmatory testing. However, CDC and State and local public health authorities are proceeding with public health investigations and response activities as if these were confirmed cases. With both confirmed and presumptive positive cases, CDC recommends healthcare providers follow the Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) or Persons Under Investigation for COVID-19 in Healthcare Settings. These four cases bring the total number of COVID-19 cases detected through the U.S. public health system to 19. The federal government has been working closely with state, local, tribal, and territorial partners, as well as public health partners, to respond to this public health threat. Unprecedented, aggressive efforts have been taken to contain the spread and mitigate the impact of this virus. CDC and federal partners have been preparing for the detection of additional instances of person-to-person spread of COVID-19 for weeks. The federal government will continue to respond aggressively to this rapidly evolving situation. For more information about COVID-19 visit www.cdc.gov/covid19. ###

Media Statement For Immediate Release Friday, Feb. 28, 2020 Contact: CDC Media Relations (404) 639-3286 CDC Announces Additional COVID-19 Presumptive Positive Cases The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is aware of four new presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 announced by state public health authorities who are currently conducting investigations. California has announced a second possible instance of community spread. Oregon has announced its first possible instance of community spread. The state of Washington has announced two presumptive cases. One is likely travel related. The other is the state’s first possible instance of community spread. Community spread means spread of an illness for which the source of infection is unknown. One previous possible instance of community spread was announced in California on February 26. The four patients tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 in their respective states using the CDC-developed rRT-PCR. They are considered presumptive positive cases pending CDC confirmatory testing. However, CDC and State and local public health authorities are proceeding with public health investigations and response activities as if these were confirmed cases. With both confirmed and presumptive positive cases, CDC recommends healthcare providers follow the Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) or Persons Under Investigation for COVID-19 in Healthcare Settings. These four cases bring the total number of COVID-19 cases detected through the U.S. public health system to 19. The federal government has been working closely with state, local, tribal, and territorial partners, as well as public health partners, to respond to this public health threat. Unprecedented, aggressive efforts have been taken to contain the spread and mitigate the impact of this virus. CDC and federal partners have been preparing for the detection of additional instances of person-to-person spread of COVID-19 for weeks. The federal government will continue to respond aggressively to this rapidly evolving situation. For more information about COVID-19 visit www.cdc.gov/covid19. ###

For immediate release: February 28, 2020 (20-026) Contact: Lisa Stromme Warren, Washington State Department of Health, 253-512-7100 Contact: Hilary Karasz, Public Health Seattle-King County, 206-423-2542 Contact: Heather Thomas, Snohomish Health District, 425-508-4980 Contact: Kathy Reeves, Everett School District, 425-319-4143 Additional Cases of COVID-19 in Washington State OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health, Public Health – Seattle & King County, and Snohomish Health District, are announcing two new cases of COVID-19, currently classified as “presumptive positives.” A presumptive positive is a test that comes back positive at the Public Health Laboratory and is pending confirmation at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC.) The individuals reside in both King and Snohomish Counties. In King County, a woman in her 50s with confirmed travel to Daegu, South Korea is a presumptive positive. She is currently in home isolation. In Snohomish County, a person under the age of 18 with no travel history is also a presumptive positive. He is currently in home isolation as well. That patient visited Seattle Children’s North Clinic on Monday, Feb. 24. Snohomish County Health District is working alongside the Everett Public Schools to ensure the safety of students and staff at Jackson High School, where this student attends. Everett Public Schools is taking this very seriously and in an abundance of caution, the superintendent has decided to close Jackson High School on Monday to allow three days for deep cleaning. While the King County case is believed to be travel-related, we don’t know how or where the new Snohomish County case was infected. We are working hard to find and identify how the patients were exposed as well as tracing people who might have been exposed to this patient. “Now that we are able to expedite test results here at the Public Health Lab in Shoreline, we’re getting results on suspected local cases a lot faster,” said State Health Officer Dr. Kathy Lofy. “Given the extent of global spread, we expect to identify more individuals with COVID-19 in Washington. We want to emphasize the importance of practicing good health habits.” COVID-19 has the potential to be a serious health risk in our country. Health departments at the federal, state, and local level are working together and with other partners to prepare. Healthcare systems are getting ready to potentially see more patients than usual. Schools are receiving updated guidance on what to do to stay safe if they have cases, and what preventative measures they should take if they do not. How can you prevent the spread of COVID-19? Prevention starts with practicing good personal health habits: Wash your hands often with soap and water, Stay home when you’re sick, Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects. Getting plenty of rest, drinking fluids, eating healthy foods, and managing your stress can help you prevent getting COVID-19 and recover from it if you do. DOH has established a call center to address questions from the public. If you have questions about what is happening in Washington state please call 1-800-525-0127 and press #. More information on COVID-19 is available from: Public Health Seattle-King County Snohomish County Health District Washington State Department of Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ### https://www.doh.wa.gov/Newsroom/Articles/ID/1103/Additional-Cases-of-COVID-19-in-Washington-State

Everett Public Schools-WA 30 mins · To keep everyone informed, the Snohomish Health District notified us we have a confirmed case of Coronavirus, or COVID-19, at Henry M. Jackson High School. We are in ongoing communication with the Washington State Department of Health and the Snohomish Health District to determine how we should proceed. The student is quarantined and the few students who were in contact, along with family members, are being tested. In an abundance of caution the school will be closed on Monday, March 2 for three days of deep disinfecting (beginning this evening through Monday). We are taking this seriously and will keep families and community updated as we get direction from the Department of Health and Snohomish Health District. Go to http://bit.ly/ConfirmedCoronaCaseFeb28 for letter sent to families & staff including resources.

the Snohomish Health District notified us we have a confirmed case of Coronavirus, or COVID-19, at Henry M. Jackson High School. https://www.facebook.com/EverettPublicSchools.WA/posts/10158096234479630

A second case of coronavirus found through spread in California By Lenny Bernstein, Lena H. Sun and Josh Dawsey Feb. 28, 2020 at 5:36 p.m. EST California has a second case of community transmission of the coronavirus, a 65-year-old resident of Santa Clara County who has no known history of travel to countries hit hard by the outbreak, people familiar with the case said Friday. There is no known connection between the new patient and anyone else diagnosed with the disease, known as covid-19. On Wednesday, health authorities revealed the nation’s first case of community transmission, a woman in Solano County, California, about 90 miles away. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/a-second-case-of-coronavirus-found-through-spread-in-california/2020/02/28/ae53c93a-5a77-11ea-9b35-def5a027d470_story.html?tid=lk_inline_manual_4&itid=lk_inline_manual_4

California has a second case of community transmission of the coronavirus, a 65-year-old resident of Santa Clara County who has no known history of travel to countries hit hard by the outbreak, people familiar with the case said Friday. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/a-second-case-of-coronavirus-found-through-spread-in-california/2020/02/28/ae53c93a-5a77-11ea-9b35-def5a027d470_story.html?tid=lk_inline_manual_4&itid=lk_inline_manual_4

From 19 to 25 February, no new confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) were reported. This was the first time since the beginning of the response that no new confirmed cases were reported over a seven-day period (Figure 1). The most recent case was reported in Beni Health Zone, North Kivu Province on 17 February. While the lack of new confirmed cases reported in the last seven days is a major achievement, the outbreak remains active and risk of additional cases emerging remains high. In the past 21 days (5 to 25 February 2020), four confirmed cases were reported from two health areas in Beni Health Zone in North Kivu Province (Figure 2, Table 1). Even with strengthened surveillance operations, transmission of Ebola virus outside of groups currently under surveillance cannot be excluded. Ebola virus also persists in some survivors’ body fluids, with potential to infect others. In at least one instance during this outbreak, relapse – in which a person who has recovered from EVD develops symptoms again – was observed, sparking a new chain of transmission which has taken several months to interrupt. To mitigate a potential resurgence of the outbreak, it is critical to maintain response capacities to rapidly detect and respond to any new cases, and to prioritize survivor support and monitoring and the maintenance of cooperative relationships with the survivors’ associations. Substantial surveillance, pathogen detection, and clinical management activities are currently ongoing, including validating alerts, following remaining contacts who were potentially exposed to the virus, supporting rapid diagnostics of suspected cases, and working with community members to strengthen surveillance on people who pass away in the communities. As of 25 February, 510 contacts are currently under surveillance, of which 97% were followed daily in the last seven days. In the last seven days, more than 5100 alerts per day were reported and investigated, of which over 400 alerts (including ~70 community deaths) were validated as suspected EVD cases; requiring laboratory testing and specialized care within the established Ebola treatment and transit centres. On average, suspect cases stay in these facilities for three days before EVD can be definitively ruled out (i.e. after two negative polymerase chain reaction tests 48 hours apart), while care is provided for their illness under isolation precautions. Timely testing of suspected cases continues to be provided across 11 operational laboratories deployed in cities that have been affected by the outbreak. From 17 to 23 February, more than 3600 samples were tested. View the full article

From 1 December 2019 through 31 January 2020, the National IHR Focal Point of Saudi Arabia reported 19 additional cases of MERS-CoV infection, including 8 associated deaths. View the full article

On 7 February 2020, the Chile IHR National Focal Point informed the Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) of the detection of three confirmed cases of autochthonous dengue fever reported on Easter Island. View the full article

WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 on 21 February 2020 21 February 2020 Good afternoon everyone. Let me begin, as always, with the latest numbers. As of 6am Geneva time this morning, China has reported a total of 75,567 cases of COVID-19 to WHO, including 2,239 deaths. In the past 24 hours, China has reported 892 new confirmed cases, and 118 deaths. The significant decline in new confirmed cases is partly due to another change in the way China reports numbers. As you know, last week China started reporting clinically-diagnosed cases, in addition to laboratory-confirmed cases. They have now switched back to reporting only suspected and lab-confirmed cases. This may indicate that the health system in Wuhan have regained the ability to test all suspected cases. As a result, some cases that had been clinically-confirmed have now been subtracted from the total because they have tested negative. Although the number of cases in Hubei province continues declining, we are concerned about an increase in the number of cases in Shandong province, and we are seeking more information about that. Outside China, there are now 1152 cases in 26 countries, and 8 deaths. Although the total number of cases outside China remains relatively small, we are concerned about the number of cases with no clear epidemiological link, such as travel history to China or contact with a confirmed case. Apart from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, the Republic of Korea now has the most cases outside China, and we’re working closely with the government to fully understand the transmission dynamics that led to this increase. We are also concerned about the increase in cases in the Islamic Republic of Iran, where there are now 18 cases and four deaths in just the past two days. WHO has supplied testing kits, and will continue to provide further support. Our concern continues to be the potential for COVID-19 to spread in countries with weaker health systems. Tomorrow I will address an emergency meeting of African health ministers, held jointly by the African Union and the African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Meanwhile, the WHO-led joint mission in China has been working in Beijing, Sichuan and Guangdong, and will travel to Wuhan tomorrow to continue its work at the epicenter of the outbreak. We are working with all partners under the GOARN network to safeguard the health of the members of the team, and to take appropriate measures when they return to their countries of origin. I’m also pleased to announce that today we are appointing six special envoys on COVID-19, to provide strategic advice and high-level political advocacy and engagement in different parts of the world. I’m pleased that the following eminent individuals have accepted my invitation to act in this role: Professor Dr Maha El Rabbat, former Minister of Health of Egypt; Dr David Nabarro, former special adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Climate Change; Dr John Nkengasong, Director of the African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention; Dr Mirta Roses, former Director of the WHO Region of the Americas; Dr Shin Young-soo, former Regional Director of the WHO Region of the Western Pacific; And Professor Samba Sow, Director-General of the Center for Vaccine Development in Mali. As I said yesterday, WHO’s key role is coordinating the global response to the epidemic, and our new special envoys will help us to do that. This is another step we are taking to take advantage of the window of opportunity we have to contain this outbreak. Once again, the measures China and other countries have taken have given us a fighting chance of containing the spread of the virus. We call on all countries to continue their containment measures, while preparing for community transmission if it occurs. We must not look back and regret that we failed to take advantage of the window of opportunity that we have now. I thank you. https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19-on-21-february-2020

JOINT STATEMENT For Immediate Release 2020HLTH0041-000304 Feb. 20, 2020 Ministry of Health Office of the Provincial Health Officer Joint statement on B.C.’s sixth case of novel coronavirus VICTORIA – Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.'s provincial health officer, have issued the following joint statement regarding updates on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in British Columbia: “Today, we are announcing a new case of COVID-19 in British Columbia. A woman in her 30s is presumed positive based on local testing, and samples have been sent to the National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) in Winnipeg, Man., for final confirmation. She resides in the Fraser Health region and recently returned from Iran. “Fraser Health is actively investigating. The patient’s close contacts will be identified and contacted by public-health officials. The patient is in isolation at home. “This brings the total number of cases in B.C. to six. One is presumed positive, with four confirmed positive by the NML. They remain in self-isolation and under care by public-health teams. The first case has recovered, as indicated by the resolution of symptoms, followed by two successive negative test results 24 hours apart. “The risk of this virus spreading within British Columbia remains low at this time. We are closely monitoring the situation in Canada and abroad. We will notify the public if the measures in B.C. change. “We continue to recommend that everyone take the same important measures to help protect from respiratory illnesses at this time of year." https://archive.news.gov.bc.ca/releases/news_releases_2017-2021/2020HLTH0041-000304.htm

From 4 November through 14 February 2020, eight laboratory confirmed cases of yellow fever in Buliisa (3), Maracha (1) and Moyo (4); including four deaths (CFR 50%), were detected through the national surveillance system. View the full article

During the past week, the incidence of new Ebola virus disease (EVD) cases has remained low (Figure 1). From 12 to 18 February, one new confirmed case was reported. The case was reported in Beni Health Zone, North Kivu Province and had an epidemiological link to a confirmed case reported on 5 February. As the case was alerted and transferred to an Ebola Treated Centre four days after symptom onset, there remains a risk that onward transmission to contacts may have occurred, and further cases may be expected from the currently active chain of transmission. Ebola virus may also persist in some survivors’ body fluids for several months, and in a limited number of instances, transmissions from exposure to body fluids of survivors have been documented during this outbreak. The ongoing programme for survivor care helps mitigate the risks of re-introduction events. To maintain operations and prevent re-emergence of the outbreak, WHO is requesting funding. Under the Strategic Response Plan (SRP 4.1), WHO’s financial need for the Ebola Response from January to June 2020 is US $83 million. Thanks to the generosity of many donors during 2019, WHO has some carry-over funding, which has been applied to maintain operations through February 2020. USD $40 million is currently needed to ensure continuity of response and preparedness activities to bring the case incidence to zero, and continue building strong, resilient health systems. View the full article

From 1 January through 9 February 2020, 472 laboratory confirmed cases including 70 deaths (case fatality ratio= 14.8%) have been reported in 26 out of 36 Nigerian states and the Federal Capital Territory. View the full article

WHO Director-General's remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 outbreak on 18 February 2020 18 February 2020 Good afternoon. I’d like to start today by talking not about COVID-19, but about Syria. Since the 1st of December, dozens of health facilities have suspended services in the Idleb and Aleppo areas. Out of nearly 550 health facilities in northwest Syria, only about half are operational. Two attacks on health facilities took place yesterday afternoon, on two separate hospitals in Aleppo governorate. Luckily, there were no casualties. We repeat: health facilities and health workers are not a legitimate target in conflict, and attacks on health are a breach of international law. Nearly 900,000 people have been displaced, including half a million children. Children are particularly prone to hypothermia and respiratory tract infections, and due to lack of shelter, many of them are sleeping in the open with their families, exposed to the elements. In the coming days, WHO is sending essential medicine and supplies across the border from Turkey to Syria. We are sending supplies for trauma, intensive and surgical care to Idleb and Aleppo governorates; in addition to drugs for non-communicable diseases and primary health care. So although we are now devoting a lot of attention to COVID-19, WHO is still responding to many other emergencies around the world. Let me now turn to the latest on COVID-19. As of 6am Geneva time this morning, China has reported 72,528 cases to WHO, including 1870 deaths. In the past 24 hours, China has reported 1,891 new cases, including both clinically- and lab-confirmed cases. Outside China, there are now 804 cases in 25 countries, with three deaths. In the past 24 hours, there have been 110 new cases outside China, including 99 on the Diamond Princess cruise ship. We have now had cases of COVID-19 outside China for more than a month. We are supporting national authorities in every country that has cases to track the virus and understand how people were infected. So far there are 92 cases in 12 countries outside China of human-to-human transmission. At the moment we don’t have enough data on cases outside China to make a meaningful comparison on the severity of disease or the case fatality rate. We’re following up with countries to get more information about what happens about each case and the outcome. However, we have not yet seen the sustained local transmission, except in specific circumstances like the Diamond Princess cruise ship. Yesterday I spoke to Singapore’s Minister of Health and we are very impressed with the efforts they are making to find every case, follow up with contacts, and stop transmission. Singapore is leaving no stone unturned, testing every case of influenza-like illness and pneumonia. So far they have not found evidence of community transmission. I also spoke to the Minister of Health of Malaysia to discuss the Westerdam case and other aspects of their preparations. These signals show the importance of all countries being ready for the arrival of the virus, to treat patients with dignity and compassion, to protect health workers and to prevent onward transmission. Many countries are taking steps to prepare themselves, with WHO support. We’ve shipped supplies of personal protective equipment to 21 countries, and will ship to another 106 countries in the coming weeks. By the end of this week, 40 countries in Africa and 29 in the Americas are due to have the ability to detect COVID-19. Many of these countries have been sending samples to other countries for testing, waiting several days for results. Now they can do it themselves, within 24 to 48 hours. Some countries in Africa including DRC are now leveraging the capacity they have built up to test for Ebola to test for COVID-19. This is a great example of how investing in health systems can pay dividends for health security. Other countries like Namibia, Nigeria and Timor-Leste are running workshops with the media to ensure accurate and reliable reporting. Several countries are prioritizing surveillance and monitoring at ports of entry, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Serbia and South Sudan. We’re also working with partners in some of the most fragile contexts, from Syria to the Central African Republic to prepare countries for the arrival of the virus. There are many other examples. We still have a chance of preventing a broader global crisis. WHO will continue working night and day with all countries to prepare them. I thank you. https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19-outbreak-on-18-february-2020

Tuesday 18 February 2020 Dear journalists, WHO Department of Communications invites you to Virtual Press Conference on COVID-19 today 18 February at 16:30 CET. WHAT: Virtual Press Conference for journalists and live webcast. An audio file of the press conference will be distributed to journalists shortly after the conference ends. A transcript will follow.HOW: Journalists can dial in or attend the press conference in person. The virtual press conference will also be broadcast live on WHO Twitter account @WHOWHEN: Today, Tuesday 18 February 2020, at 16:30 Geneva timeWHERE: Journalists can dial-in or attend the press conference in person in SHOCJournalists can access the room from 15h30 Geneva time. ACCREDITATION: Online accreditation registration for the media: http://indico.un.org/e/nCoV/Pressevents/WHO/Feb2020 UN Palais journalists do not need to be accredited. Non-UN Palais journalists wanting to attend in person should request media accreditation using the above Indico link.WHO: Speakers to be confirmed ahead of the press conference Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/974672911 Please ensure you enter your name and media outlet. (use name/outlet) To ask a question, please click "raise hand" and this will enter you into the queue for questions. Please make sure you have a microphone connected or active on your computer. Please do not ask questions via the chat as we can not guarantee that we will see them and be able to incorporate them into the q&a session. Meeting ID: 974 672 911 To join by phone, chose the location nearest you from the list below. To ask a question by phone push *9 on your keypad. This will enter you into the queue for questions. You will be asked to identify yourself and your media outlet before asking your question. Kindly note, only questions from media will be allowed during the press conference. Meeting ID: 974 672 911 +41 31 528 09 88 Switzerland +41 43 210 70 42 Switzerland +41 43 210 71 08 Switzerland 0 800 002 622 Switzerland Toll-free 0 800 561 252 Switzerland Toll-free One tap mobile from CH: +41432107042,,974672911# Switzerland +41432107108,,974672911# Switzerland +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose) 877 853 5257 US Toll-free 888 475 4499 US Toll-free One tap mobile from US: +16699009128,,974672911# US (San Jose) +16465588656,,974672911# US (New York) +44 203 481 5237 United Kingdom +44 203 481 5240 United Kingdom +44 131 460 1196 United Kingdom +44 203 051 2874 United Kingdom 0 800 031 5717 United Kingdom Toll-free 0 800 260 5801 United Kingdom Toll-free 0 800 358 2817 United Kingdom Toll-free +213 98 24 02 675 Algeria +244 226 425 5009 Angola +61 2 8015 6011 Australia +61 3 7018 2005 Australia +61 8 7150 1149 Australia 1800 317 562 Australia Toll-free 1800 893 423 Australia Toll-free 1800 945 157 Australia Toll-free +43 670 309 0165 Austria +43 72 011 5988 Austria 0 800 102 309 Austria Toll-free 800 104 430 Austria Toll-free +973 1619 7601 Bahrain +973 1619 8488 Bahrain 800 197 96 Bahrain Toll-free +32 1579 5132 Belgium +32 2 290 9360 Belgium +32 2 588 4188 Belgium 0 800 293 46 Belgium Toll-free 0 800 294 51 Belgium Toll-free 0 800 828 50 Bosnia and Herzegovina Toll-free 00 269 800 280 0101 Botswana Toll-free (Landline) +55 11 4680 6788 Brazil +55 21 3958 7888 Brazil 0 800 282 5751 Brazil Toll-free 0 800 878 3108 Brazil Toll-free +1 647 558 0588 Canada 855 703 8985 Canada Toll-free +86 10 53876330 China +86 10 87833177 China 400 182 3168 China Toll-free 400 616 8835 China Toll-free 400 669 9381 China Toll-free +57 1 508 7702 Colombia +57 2 620 7388 Colombia 1 800 518 4301 Colombia Toll-free +506 4000 3843 Costa Rica 800 542 5510 Costa Rica Toll-free +45 32 70 12 06 Denmark +45 32 71 31 57 Denmark +45 89 88 37 88 Denmark 80 71 12 51 Denmark Toll-free 80 71 12 56 Denmark Toll-free 0800 000 9608 Egypt Toll-free +358 3 4109 2129 Finland +358 9 4245 1488 Finland 0 800 102 188 Finland Toll-free +33 1 7037 2246 France +33 1 7037 9729 France +33 7 5678 4048 France 0 800 940 415 France Toll-free 0 800 944 049 France Toll-free +49 30 5679 5800 Germany +49 695 050 2596 Germany +49 69 7104 9922 Germany 0 800 000 1590 Germany Toll-free 0 800 000 6954 Germany Toll-free 0 800 1800 150 Germany Toll-free 30 708 4676 Ghana Toll-free 30 708 4860 Ghana Toll-free 1800 3000 161 Guatemala Toll-free +852 5808 6088 Hong Kong, China +852 3008 3297 Hong Kong, China 800 906 780 Hong Kong, China Toll-free 800 931 189 Hong Kong, China Toll-free 800 931 645 Hong Kong, China Toll-free +36 1 408 8456 Hungary +36 1 701 0488 Hungary 800 881 88 Hungary Toll-free 0080 07 473 Iceland Toll-free +91 22 62 192 563 India +91 22 71 279 525 India +91 80 71 279 440 India +91 22 48 798 004 India +91 224 879 8012 India 000 800 040 1530 India Toll-free 000 800 050 5050 India Toll-free +62 21 2789 9657 Indonesia +62 21 3950 1721 Indonesia +62 215 086 1500 Indonesia 0 800 140 1593 Indonesia Toll-free 0 800 140 1946 Indonesia Toll-free +353 1 536 9320 Ireland +353 1 653 3895 Ireland +353 6 163 9031 Ireland 1800 901 561 Ireland Toll-free 1800 943 965 Ireland Toll-free 1800 949 238 Ireland Toll-free +972 3 978 6688 Israel +972 55 330 1762 Israel 1801 227 228 Israel Toll-free +39 020 066 7245 Italy +39 021 241 28 823 Italy +39 069 480 6488 Italy 800 088 202 Italy Toll-free 800 125 671 Italy Toll-free 800 790 654 Italy Toll-free +81 3 4578 1488 Japan +81 524 564 439 Japan 00 663 381 4092 Japan Toll-free 0 800 100 5040 Japan Toll-free 800 222 03 Jordan Toll-free +7 727 312 2408 Kazakhstan 717 272 7738 Kazakhstan Toll-free 800 720 248 Kenya Toll-free 0 800 733 310 Kenya Toll-free +965 2206 9157 Kuwait +371 6303 1808 Latvia +371 6303 1888 Latvia 8000 0281 Latvia Toll-free +370 3799 9260 Lithuania +370 5214 1488 Lithuania 8 800 303 19 Lithuania Toll-free +352 2786 1188 Luxembourg +352 2786 4277 Luxembourg 800 810 88 Luxembourg Toll-free +60 3 3099 2229 Malaysia +60 3 9212 1727 Malaysia 1 800 818 425 Malaysia Toll-free +356 2776 1777 Malta +356 2778 1288 Malta +52 229 910 0061 Mexico +52 554 161 4288 Mexico 800 062 7287 Mexico Toll-free 800 733 4118 Mexico Toll-free 800 94 362 Monaco Toll-free +212 520 205 525 Morocco 0 800 092 500 Morocco Toll-free +264 833 800 196 Namibia +31 20 241 0288 Netherlands +31 20 794 0854 Netherlands +31 20 794 7345 Netherlands 0 800 022 1954 Netherlands Toll-free 0 800 220 0040 Netherlands Toll-free 1800 001 0128 Nepal Toll-free +64 4 886 0026 New Zealand +64 9 884 6780 New Zealand 0 800 307 929 New Zealand Toll-free 0 800 527 544 New Zealand Toll-free +234 1227 8806 Nigeria 0 708 060 1822 Nigeria Toll-free +47 2396 0588 Norway +47 7349 4877 Norway 800 248 88 Norway Toll-free 800 74201 Oman Toll-free +92 21 3879 9843 Pakistan 0098 0011 0288 Paraguay Toll-free +51 1 707 5788 Peru +51 1 730 6777 Peru 0 800 76930 Peru Toll-free 0 800 78743 Peru Toll-free +63 92 3099 0478 Philippines 1800 1110 2219 Philippines Toll-free +48 22 307 3488 Poland +48 22 398 7356 Poland 00 800 112 5171 Poland Toll-free 00 800 321 1464 Poland Toll-free +351 308 804 188 Portugal +351 308 810 988 Portugal 800 780 052 Portugal Toll-free 800 780 072 Portugal Toll-free 00 800 100 059 Qatar Toll-free 00 800 100363 Qatar Toll-free +40 31 630 1088 Romania +40 37 170 0418 Romania 0 800 672 631 Romania Toll-free 0 800 890 203 Romania Toll-free +7 495 283 9788 Russian Federation +7 812 426 8988 Russian Federation 800 100 6938 Russian Federation Toll-free 8800 301 7427 Russian Federation Toll-free (Landline) 800 811 0528 Saudi Arabia Toll-free 800 814 3820 Saudi Arabia Toll-free 800 850 0304 Saudi Arabia Toll-free 0 800 500 702 Serbia Toll-free +65 3158 7288 Singapore +65 3165 1065 Singapore 800 101 3814 Singapore Toll-free 800 852 6054 Singapore Toll-free +421 233 056 888 Slovakia +421 233 418 515 Slovakia 0 800 005 424 Slovakia Toll-free 0 800 049 025 Slovakia Toll-free +27 87 550 3946 South Africa +27 87 551 7702 South Africa 0 800 008 728 South Africa Toll-free 0 800 064 584 South Africa Toll-free +386 1600 3102 Slovenia +386 1888 8788 Slovenia 0 80 488 840 Slovenia Toll-free +34 84 368 5025 Spain +34 91 787 0058 Spain +34 917 873 431 Spain 800 654 404 Spain Toll-free 800 906 063 Spain Toll-free 900 053 647 Spain Toll-free +94 7 2091 0374 Sri Lanka 112 029 070 Sri Lanka Toll-free +46 8 4468 2488 Sweden +46 8 5052 0017 Sweden +46 850 539 728 Sweden 0 200 123 514 Sweden Toll-free 0 200 123 720 Sweden Toll-free 0 808 110 091 Tanzania, United Republic of Toll-free +66 2018 2486 Thailand +66 60 003 5790 Thailand 1 800 012 275 Thailand Toll-free 1 800 013 864 Thailand Toll-free +216 31 397 748 Tunisia 0 800 501 567 Ukraine Toll-free 0 800 800 138 Ukraine Toll-free 800 035 704 239 United Arab Emirates Toll-free 800 035 704 555 United Arab Emirates Toll-free 800 0491 0899 United Arab Emirates Toll-free 0 800 100 5564 Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) Toll-free +84 28 4458 2373 Viet Nam 1203 2625 Viet Nam Toll-free 1228 0906 Viet Nam Toll-free 1800 400 332 Viet Nam Toll-free +263 864 404 1086 Zimbabwe Meeting ID: 974 672 911 Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/aepNhBXj4V Join by [email protected] Join by Skype for Businesshttps://zoom.us/skype/974672911 Best Regards, WHO Media Team Media contacts: Ms Fadéla Chaib | +41 79 475 5556 | [email protected] Ms Carla Drysdale | +41 79 716 4546 | [email protected] Dr Margaret Harris | +41 79 290 6688 | [email protected] Mr Tarik Jasarevic | +41 79 367 6214 | [email protected] Mr Christian Lindmeier | +41 79 500 6552 | [email protected]

WHAT: Virtual Press Conference for journalists and live webcast.An audio file of the press conference will be distributed to journalists shortly after the conference ends. A transcript will follow.HOW: Journalists can dial in or attend the press conference in person.The virtual press conference will also be broadcast live on WHO Twitter account @WHOWHEN: Today, Tuesday 18 February 2020, at 16:30 Geneva timeWHERE: Journalists can dial-in or attend the press conference in person in SHOC

U.S. to Evacuate Some Americans From Diamond Princess Cruise Ship Evacuees likely to go to Travis Air Force Base in California The quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Yokohama, Japan. PHOTO: JAE C. HONG/ASSOCIATED PRESS By Shan Li Feb. 14, 2020 9:20 pm ET SAVE PRINT TEXT 2 TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.—The U.S. government is preparing to evacuate American citizens from aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship, the site of the biggest outbreak of the novel coronavirus outside China, according to an official at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 380 Americans and their families on the ship, docked in Yokohama, Japan, will be offered seats on two State Department-organized planes flying back to the U.S., said Henry Walke, director of the CDC’s Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infections, on Friday. They are arriving in the U.S. as early as Sunday, he said. The cruise ship was put under a two-week quarantine on Feb. 5. Since then, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases from the ship has climbed to 218. A CDC team is on the ground in Japan to assess the health of the passengers, Dr. Walke said. Those with a fever, cough or other symptoms won’t be allowed on the flights. Evacuees will likely arrive first at Travis Air Force Base near Sacramento, Calif., where they will undergo additional health screenings, said Dr. Walke. Some will likely remain at Travis to undergo a mandatory quarantine, which will likely be 14 days, he said. Others may be moved to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio to quarantine. Travis is already the quarantine site for roughly 230 people evacuated from Wuhan earlier this month, and Dr. Walke spoke in a town-hall meeting with those people on Friday. These evacuees will be kept separate from the fresh group arriving from the ship, he said. Write to Shan Li at [email protected] https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-to-evacuate-some-americans-from-diamond-princess-cruise-ship-11581733214?tesla=y&mod=article_inline

The U.S. government is preparing to evacuate some American citizens from aboard the ship, according to an official at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 380 Americans and their families on the ship, docked in Yokohama, Japan, will be offered seats on two State Department-organized planes flying back to the U.S., said Henry Walke, director of the CDC’s Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infections, on Friday. They are arriving in the U.S. as early as Sunday, he said.

Fear and Boredom Aboard the Quarantined Coronavirus Cruise Ship U.S. State Department to evacuate Americans and their families aboard the Diamond Princess By Suryatapa Bhattacharya Updated Feb. 14, 2020 8:48 pm ET SAVE SHARE TEXT 70 RESPONSES Breaking News: *U.S. State Dept. will evacuate American citizens and their families aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship - CDC official *About 380 people will be offered seats on two evacuation flights from Japan back to the U.S. - CDC official *Some may quarantine at Travis Air Force Base in California, while others may be transferred to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas (Article below will update) TOKYO—The pools, hot tubs and bars of the Diamond Princess emptied out on Feb. 5, when authorities quarantined the luxury cruise ship at a Yokohama dock. Instead of overflowing buffets, staff in surgical masks deliver boxed meals and snacks, about 11,000 a day. Life has taken a turn for the nearly 3,500 passengers and crew aboard the $500 million vessel who entered a second week under quarantine for the coronavirus disease. “I can’t wrap my head around the fact that I could die from this cruise,” said Gay Courter, a 75-year-old American novelist confined to a cabin with her husband. “I go look outside and there’s people in white hazmat suits.” The only trips ashore are for those infected with the coronavirus, 218 so far, or people with other serious ailments. Of the disembarked passengers sick with the virus, eight are in serious condition, authorities said. Outside of China, the biggest outbreak is on the Diamond Princess. The nearly 2,400 passengers who remain are largely trapped in their cabins. Health workers in masks and body suits knock on doors to ask selected passengers, including the elderly, to open wide for a throat swab. Used bedsheets and towels go into bags for incineration. Anxiety and boredom appear the most common symptoms aboard what amounts to a floating petri dish. Aun Na Tan, of Melbourne, Australia, her husband, a 19-year-old son, and a daughter, 16, are stuck in a windowless cabin with two bunk beds. While the teens practice handstands, Ms. Tan said, “my husband is trying to learn.” Shipboard entertainers have been assigned to record trivia quiz shows and origami-making for passengers to join along on cabin TVs. The magician recorded a performance, and a room steward demonstrated how to make a bed. Passenger Paul Molesky, left, gets a swab test aboard the Diamond Princess. PHOTO: CHERYL AND PAUL MOLESKY/ASSOCIATED PRESS Aun Na Tan's 19-year-old son perfecting his handstand, left, in the family’s windowless cabin aboard the Diamond Princess. Right, Aun Na Tan and her family. PHOTO: AUN NA TAN Coralie Williamson, 57, and her husband, Paul Williamson, 62, from Queensland, Australia, take turns reading from a book they brought, “The Resilience Project: Finding Happiness Through Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness.” The couple had booked passage with a last-minute deal: A 250-square-foot cabin with a balcony was marked down to about $1,240 for the 15-day cruise that started in Yokohama, traveled south toward Vietnam and returned. Their shared book, by Hugh van Cuylenburg, a former volunteer teacher in India, recounts the optimistic attitude among his underprivileged students. “It is helping us stay positive and express gratitude,” Mrs. Williamson said. Kimberly Vincent and Ellis Vincent aboard the Diamond Princess. PHOTO: VINCENT FAMILY Ellis Vincent, a 76-year-old retired airline executive from Sydney, Australia, said he has spent more time than customary conversing with his wife while cooped up inside. She has an excellent memory, he said: “She is able to bring up every transgression I’ve ever had. I believe she is not finished.” The operator of Diamond Princess, Princess Cruises, told passengers they would be refunded for the trip. Jan Swartz, the president of Princess Cruises, said last week the company was working closely with health authorities. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS Do you have a similarly harrowing travel story?Join the conversation below. The shipboard contagion offers an opportunity to study the virus, said Michael Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organization’s Health Emergencies Program. He also acknowledged Thursday that “it’s a difficult thing for anybody to live in a closed environment like that.” Japanese authorities on Friday arranged for 11 passengers to leave the ship and stay in government housing until the scheduled end of the ship’s two-week quarantine on Feb. 19. The passengers allowed to disembark were 80 and older and had met other conditions, including testing negative for the virus. The total of laboratory-confirmed cases of the coronavirus, named Covid-19, reached 64,437 in China and 24 other countries. There have been 1,384 deaths, all but three in China. The U.S. confirmed its 15th case on Thursday. How the Virus Spread on the Diamond Princess Of the 3,711 passengers and crewmembers on the ship, the virus has infected 218 people as of Feb. 13, representing over a third of all infections outside Mainland China. Feb. 10, 2020 439 tested 135 infected Source: Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Anxiety on the Diamond Princess over who will be next also infects the ship’s crew. Some were diagnosed with the virus and taken to hospitals. Those working received thermometers and were instructed to remain in their room if they had a fever. They were also given hand sanitizer, masks and gloves. One waitress who had been delivering box meals sought help after she got a cough. “I realized it’s better to test for the virus,” the woman said. She tested positive and was taken to a hospital this week. A waiter from Mumbai who worked with the woman was worried. “I feel like slowly the whole ship will be testing positive,” he said. Set sail When the Diamond Princess set off from Yokohama on Jan. 20, there weren’t widespread worries about the virus. In Wuhan, the Chinese provincial capital at the center of the outbreak, people went about their workaday lives. Passengers aboard the 116,000-ton ship, operated by Princess Cruises, expected nothing less than a pleasant East Asia trip, including stops in Hong Kong and the isles of Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay. A day before embarking, an 80-year-old man from Hong Kong developed a cough. He had crossed into mainland China’s Guangdong province 10 days earlier. Hong Kong health officials said he boarded the ship with two daughters and visited the ship’s sauna and restaurants. Jan. 20 Yokohama NORTH KOREA Sea of Japan JAPAN SOUTH KOREA Yellow Sea Jan. 22 Kagoshima CHINA TAIWAN Philippine Sea LAOS South China Sea PHILIPPINES VIETNAM 500 miles 500 km Jan. 20 Yokohama NORTH KOREA Sea of Japan JAPAN SOUTH KOREA Yellow Sea Jan. 22 Kagoshima CHINA TAIWAN Philippine Sea Jan. 25 Hong Kong LAOS South China Sea PHILIPPINES VIETNAM 500 miles 500 km On Jan. 22, two days into the cruise, the ship docked at the southern Japanese city of Kagoshima. The Hong Kong man joined a bus tour with about 40 other passengers. The ship stopped in Hong Kong on Jan. 25, shortly after Wuhan was put on a citywide lockdown. Source: MarineTraffic The news gave passengers their first inkling of how serious a turn the virus had taken. The Hong Kong man, whose name hasn’t been released by authorities, left the ship early and, five days later, he went to the hospital. During a shore excursion, a stranger at a Hong Kong subway station stopped Mrs. Williamson and suggested she wear a medical mask. “It got me worried,” she said. Mrs. Williamson and her husband looked but couldn’t find any in nearby stores. Jan. 20 Yokohama NORTH KOREA Sea of Japan JAPAN SOUTH KOREA Yellow Sea Jan. 22 Kagoshima CHINA Jan. 31 Taipei TAIWAN Philippine Sea Jan. 25 Hong Kong Jan. 28 Ha Long Bay LAOS South China Sea PHILIPPINES VIETNAM 500 miles Jan. 27 Chan May 500 km Jan. 20 Yokohama NORTH KOREA Sea of Japan JAPAN SOUTH KOREA Yellow Sea Jan. 22 Kagoshima CHINA Jan. 31 Taipei TAIWAN Philippine Sea Jan. 25 Hong Kong Jan. 28 Ha Long Bay LAOS South China Sea PHILIPPINES VIETNAM 500 miles Jan. 27 Chan May 500 km Jan. 20 Yokohama NORTH KOREA Sea of Japan JAPAN SOUTH KOREA Yellow Sea Jan. 22 Kagoshima CHINA Feb. 1 Okinawa Jan. 31 Taipei TAIWAN Philippine Sea Jan. 25 Hong Kong Jan. 28 Ha Long Bay LAOS South China Sea PHILIPPINES VIETNAM 500 miles Jan. 27 Chan May 500 km Jan. 20 Yokohama NORTH KOREA Feb. 3 Yokohama Sea of Japan JAPAN SOUTH KOREA Yellow Sea Jan. 22 Kagoshima CHINA Feb. 1 Okinawa Jan. 31 Taipei TAIWAN Philippine Sea Jan. 25 Hong Kong Jan. 28 Ha Long Bay LAOS South China Sea PHILIPPINES VIETNAM 500 miles Jan. 27 Chan May 500 km During a 2-day stopover in Vietnam, passengers shared an hourlong bus ride from Chan May to the caves of the Marble Mountain in Da Nang, and later sailed on traditional junk boats around the limestone mountains of Ha Long Bay. The Diamond Princess made port in Taipei, Taiwan, on Jan. 31. The Williamsons planned to tour the city. “There had been no talk of any of this on the ship, but we were meeting friends who were worried and asked if we had masks,” Mrs. Williamson said. The couple bought two N95 masks, the kind used by medical workers. The next day, at the trip’s last port of call before returning home, passengers headed ashore passed through an immigration inspection station at the Japanese island of Okinawa. Japan had just imposed stricter checks for entering travelers. Source: MarineTraffic Cruise passengers walked onto a disinfectant mat, then went through a thermal-imaging camera to detect higher-than-normal temperatures. People suspected of having a fever were pulled aside and asked if they had recently been to China. The new inspection procedure caused hours of delay. The mood among passengers soon turned from impatience to worry. “People started hearing that an older person had disembarked and had tested positive,” said Rebecca Frasure, 35, from Forest Grove, Ore. “People started to think, ‘Wow, this is a big deal.’ ” Mr. Vincent, the retired airline executive, had hoped to visit the site of the World War II Battle of Okinawa. He and his wife, he said, “ended up going to the quarantine hall and turning right around and getting back on the ship.” Coralie Williamson and Paul Williamson at a stopover in Kagoshima, Japan, before passengers were quarantined aboard the Diamond Princess. Right, Mr. Williamson passes the time reading and writing PHOTO: CORALIE WILLIAMSON Meals on the Diamond Princess are delivered to passenger cabins in boxes. PHOTO: KENT FRASURE Late that day, Hong Kong’s health authority announced that the 80-year-old Hong Kong man who left the cruise early had the coronavirus disease. Japanese officials said a formal notification didn’t arrive until the next day, Feb. 2. If it had come earlier, the Diamond Princess might have been refused entry to Japan, said Kenichi Hoshino, a health ministry official. Another cruise ship, the Westerdam, headed for Japan later that week was denied access and stayed at sea until receiving permission to dock Thursday in Cambodia. From Okinawa, the Diamond Princess, with 2,666 passengers and 1,045 crew, headed for Yokohama and another immigration inspection. Ship passengers said they didn’t get any special precautions on the last leg of the trip. Open bar Diamond Princess revelers crowded the captain’s farewell cocktail hour after sunset on Feb. 2. They drank free beer and wine in the ship’s atrium, which rose three decks. Guests filled seats in the Princess Theater for a production of the musical “Bravo.” Lines of diners stretched past buffet tables. Revelers on the Diamond Princess on Feb. 2, the night of the captain’s farewell cocktail hour. PHOTO: PHILIP AND GAY COURTER/REUTERS Kazunori Oishi, who formerly headed infectious-disease surveillance at Japan’s National Institute of Infectious Diseases, said it was a ripe environment for the virus to spread. Delays in recognizing the danger “created a lot of occasions for close contact,” said Dr. Oishi, especially the eating, drinking and conviviality that is common in the close confines of a cruise ship. On the evening of Feb. 3, the Diamond Princess arrived in Tokyo Bay. Japanese health officials met the ship. They took the temperature of passengers and later collected throat swabs from those suspected of having the virus. The next day, Feb. 4, passengers mingled without restrictions or warnings, said Mr. Vincent, the retired airline executive. “We could eat where we want, we could go where we want.” Early the next morning, everything changed. Around 6:30 a.m. a captain’s announcement startled passengers. He ordered them to stay in their cabins. Shortly after, he said that 10 people had tested positive for the virus. Then he announced that everyone on board was under quarantine for two weeks. The only exception was one nobody wanted: a positive test for the virus. The Diamond Princess Guests: 2,666 Crew: 1,045 205 ft 952 ft Decks: 18 Guest cabins: 1,337 Guest capacity: 2,700 Crew capacity: 1,100 Sources: Princess Cruises; Sadayuki Goto/AP (Photo) Quarantine officers first entered the ship without full body suits, and one contracted the virus. Over the following days, dozens of people a day tested positive. A parade of ambulances ferried them to hospitals. As fear spread, some passengers called for everyone on board to be tested. Japan rejected the request, citing logistical hurdles. With many elderly people under stress, other medical problems emerged. Mr. Vincent’s wife, Kimberly Vincent, 73, learned that a friend on the ship suffered a stroke and was taken to a hospital. Tadashi Chida, a retired university professor in his 70s, organized an impromptu group, the Emergency Support Network for Those Living Under Quarantine on the Diamond Princess. The group submitted two sheets of handwritten demands to a health ministry official aboard the Diamond Princess. What It’s Like for Cruise Ship Passengers During Coronavirus Outbreak YOU MAY ALSO LIKE UP NEXT 0:00 / 3:13 What It’s Like for Cruise Ship Passengers During Coronavirus Outbreak More than 170 people have been diagnosed with the coronavirus on the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Yokohama, Japan. Here’s how sick and healthy passengers are dealing with the quarantine. Photo: Toru Hanai/Bloomberg Among other things, they asked for faster refills for people who were running out of their medical prescriptions. They also asked for clean sheets. Both demands were met a few days later. More than 100 doctors, pharmacists and nurses are now on the Diamond Princess every day. Passengers have since been allowed stroll the deck for an hour in limited groups. They have been told to stay at least 6 feet from others. Mrs. Williamson said she and her husband weren’t interested. “We’d rather stay in our cabins and exercise and not expose ourselves,” she said. Meals are still being prepared on the ship. When the food arrives, the Williamsons have to put on a protective mask before opening the door. “Every time service comes around, we say, ‘Wait, wait, wait,’ and go to put on our mask,” Mrs. Williamson said. Passengers are allowed walks on ship decks, but they must wear face masks and keep at least 6 feet from each other. PHOTO: AUN NA TAN Rebecca Frasure at the Keelung night market in Taipei, Taiwan, left, before she tested positive for the coronavirus disease. Mrs. Frasure at a Tokyo hospital, right. PHOTO: PROVIDED BY KENT FRASURE Kent Frasure’s wife, Rebecca Frasure, was among 41 people on board diagnosed with the virus on Feb. 7. She remains in an isolation ward of a Tokyo hospital. Mr. Frasure, 42, has tested negative. He is anxious for the couple to be reunited and worries the quarantine may stretch longer than two weeks. “If this goes past Feb. 19, there will be panic, Mr. Frasure said. “Then it will be, ‘Are we ever going to get off the boat?’ ” Not all shipboard amenities have disappeared. The Valentine’s Day box dinner included teriyaki shrimp and heart-shaped chocolate mousse. “The pastry chef is my hero,” said Mrs. Courter, the American novelist on board. “I think he thinks he can sedate us with chocolate, which, you know, is not a crazy idea.” —Miho Inada, Rachel Yeo and Betsy McKay contributed to this article. Workers in protective suits walk from the Diamond Princess cruise ship. PHOTO: CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE/GETTY IMAGES —Graphics by Roque Ruiz and Elbert Wang. https://www.wsj.com/articles/fear-and-boredom-aboard-the-quarantined-coronavirus-cruise-ship-11581705677?mod=hp_lead_pos5

WHO Director-General's remarks at the media briefing on COVID-2019 outbreak on 14 February 2020 14 February 2020 Good afternoon everyone. I am speaking to you from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, where I have met with President Tshisekedi, ministers, UN colleagues and other partners – to review the impressive progress that has been made toward ending the Ebola outbreak, and to talk about future plans to ensure that everyone in the DRC can access quality health services going forward. I have been impressed with the commitment of President Tshisekedi and his government to ending the outbreak in eastern DRC and I would like to urge the whole world to recommit to getting to zero Ebola cases. But it is also vitally important that resources and attention focus on strengthening the country’s health system and bolstering preparedness. Whether it’s Ebola or COVID-19, investing in preparedness is the smartest way to ensure disease outbreaks are identified and stopped quickly. I am glad to say that countries around the world are in a better state of preparedness for COVID-19 than they were just a week ago, and WHO’s efforts to help countries boost their lab capacity continue. Now the latest numbers on the COVID-19 outbreak. As you know, China has changed the way it reports data from Hubei province. There are now a total of 47,505 laboratory-confirmed cases in China, and 16,427 cases that have been clinically-confirmed in Hubei province. While it’s not uncommon in outbreaks for case definitions to change over time as more information becomes available, we are seeking further clarity on how clinical diagnosis is being made, to ensure other respiratory illnesses including influenza are not getting mixed into the COVID-19 data. In total, there have been 1,381 deaths in China, including 121 reported today. Outside China, there have been 505 cases in 24 countries and two deaths. The vice minister of the national health commission has said that as of Tuesday 1716 health care workers have been infected, and six have died. This is a critical piece of information, because health workers are the glue that holds the health system and outbreak response together. But we need to know more about this figure, including the time period and circumstances in which the health workers became sick. WHO guidelines have been developed for health workers taking care of hospitalised adults and paediatric patients with acute infections. These guidelines have been made available to all countries. As I said the other day, we have been in regular contact with suppliers, asking them to prioritize production and distribution of personal protective equipment to health workers on the front lines. We are also in touch with Member States on this important issue. I’m glad to say that the WHO-led Joint Mission with China on COVID-19 is moving forward. We expect the full team to touch down over the weekend. The mission consists of 12 international and WHO experts and a similar number of national expert counterparts from the People’s Republic of China. The Joint Mission will include in-depth workshops, a data review with the principal ministries, a series of meetings with key national-level institutions and field visits in three provinces to understand the application and impact of response activities at provincial and county levels, including urban and rural settings. The goal of the joint mission is to rapidly inform the next steps in the COVID-19 response and preparedness activities in China and globally. Particular attention will be paid to understanding the transmission of the virus, the severity of disease, and the impact of ongoing response measures. Furthermore, it will be important to review which type of information is needed so that the world can use this window of opportunity to prepare health systems and workers for possible outbreaks. Clearly this is an evolving picture. Health workers and responders in China are working with virtually no sleep in difficult conditions. But we need to ensure that we’re getting the most accurate data, as quickly as possible, to assist China and support the global response. We’re working with our Chinese counterparts on these issues, and this is also part of the scope of work for the WHO-led joint mission with China. Finally, I wish to thank Cambodia for demonstrating to the world the meaning of solidarity. While other countries turned away the Westerdam cruise ship, Cambodia allowed it to dock. Today hundreds of passengers are disembarking and are en route to their home countries. 20 passengers who reported signs of illness have tested negative for the COVID-19 virus. I hope that other countries will follow Cambodia’s lead. Lastly, I want to say again, from my heart, that this is the time for solidarity, not stigma. There are worrying signs that the world is not hearing the call for unity and standing in unison with those at the epicenter in China who are saving lives and alleviating suffering. I thank you. https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-COVID-2019-outbreak-on-14-february-2020

INVITATION TO A VIRTUAL PRESS CONFERENCE Update on the situation regarding Coronavirus Disease (COVID - 19) WHAT: Virtual Press Conference for journalists and live webcast.An audio file of the press conference will be distributed to journalists shortly after the conference ends. A transcript will follow.HOW: Journalists can dial-in or attend the press conference in personThe virtual press conference will also be broadcast live on WHO Twitter account @WHOWHEN: Today, Friday 14 February 2020, at 16:00 Geneva timeWHERE: Journalists can dial-in or attend the press conference in person in SHOCThe journalists can access the room from 15hACCREDITATION: Online accreditation registration for the media: http://indico.un.org/e/nCoV/Pressevents/WHO/Feb2020UN Palais journalists do not need to be accredited.Non-UN Palais journalists wanting to attend in person should request media accreditationWHO: Speakers to be confirmed ahead of the press conferenceHow to access the Virtual Press Conference – 14 Feb 2020 at 16:00/4 pm CET You can join OnlineJoin Zoom Meetinghttps://zoom.us/j/721919558 Please ensure you enter your name and media outlet. (use name/outlet) To ask a question, please click "raise hand" and this will enter you into the queue for questions. Please make sure you have a microphone connected or active on your computer. Please do not ask questions via the chat as we can not guarantee that we will see them and be able to incorporate them into the q&a session.Meeting ID: 721 919 558 To join by phone, chose the location nearest you from the list below. To ask a question by phone push *9 on your keypad. This will enter you into the queue for questions. You will be asked to identify yourself and your media outlet before asking your question. Kindly note, only questions from media will be allowed during the press conference. Meeting ID: 721 919 558 +41 31 528 09 88 Switzerland +41 43 210 70 42 Switzerland +41 43 210 71 08 Switzerland 0 800 002 622 Switzerland Toll-free 0 800 561 252 Switzerland Toll-free One tap mobile from CH: +41432107042,,721919558# Switzerland+41432107108,,721919558# Switzerland +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose) 877 853 5257 US Toll-free 888 475 4499 US Toll-free One tap mobile from US: +16465588656,, 721919558# US (New York)+16699009128,, 721919558# US (San Jose) +44 203 481 5237 United Kingdom +44 203 481 5240 United Kingdom +44 131 460 1196 United Kingdom +44 203 051 2874 United Kingdom 0 800 031 5717 United Kingdom Toll-free 0 800 260 5801 United Kingdom Toll-free 0 800 358 2817 United Kingdom Toll-free +213 98 24 02 675 Algeria +244 226 425 5009 Angola +61 2 8015 6011 Australia +61 3 7018 2005 Australia +61 8 7150 1149 Australia 1800 317 562 Australia Toll-free 1800 893 423 Australia Toll-free 1800 945 157 Australia Toll-free +43 670 309 0165 Austria +43 72 011 5988 Austria 0 800 102 309 Austria Toll-free 800 104 430 Austria Toll-free +973 1619 7601 Bahrain +973 1619 8488 Bahrain 800 197 96 Bahrain Toll-free +32 1579 5132 Belgium +32 2 290 9360 Belgium +32 2 588 4188 Belgium 0 800 293 46 Belgium Toll-free 0 800 294 51 Belgium Toll-free 0 800 828 50 Bosnia and Herzegovina Toll-free 00 269 800 280 0101 Botswana Toll-free (Landline) +55 11 4680 6788 Brazil +55 21 3958 7888 Brazil 0 800 282 5751 Brazil Toll-free 0 800 878 3108 Brazil Toll-free +1 647 558 0588 Canada 855 703 8985 Canada Toll-free +86 10 53876330 China +86 10 87833177 China 400 182 3168 China Toll-free 400 616 8835 China Toll-free 400 669 9381 China Toll-free +57 1 508 7702 Colombia +57 2 620 7388 Colombia 1 800 518 4301 Colombia Toll-free +506 4000 3843 Costa Rica 800 542 5510 Costa Rica Toll-free +45 32 70 12 06 Denmark +45 32 71 31 57 Denmark +45 89 88 37 88 Denmark 80 71 12 51 Denmark Toll-free 80 71 12 56 Denmark Toll-free 0800 000 9608 Egypt Toll-free +358 3 4109 2129 Finland +358 9 4245 1488 Finland 0 800 102 188 Finland Toll-free +33 1 7037 2246 France +33 1 7037 9729 France +33 7 5678 4048 France 0 800 940 415 France Toll-free 0 800 944 049 France Toll-free +49 30 5679 5800 Germany +49 695 050 2596 Germany +49 69 7104 9922 Germany 0 800 000 1590 Germany Toll-free 0 800 000 6954 Germany Toll-free 0 800 1800 150 Germany Toll-free 30 708 4676 Ghana Toll-free 30 708 4860 Ghana Toll-free 1800 3000 161 Guatemala Toll-free +852 5808 6088 Hong Kong, China +852 3008 3297 Hong Kong, China 800 906 780 Hong Kong, China Toll-free 800 931 189 Hong Kong, China Toll-free 800 931 645 Hong Kong, China Toll-free +36 1 408 8456 Hungary +36 1 701 0488 Hungary 800 881 88 Hungary Toll-free 0080 07 473 Iceland Toll-free +91 22 62 192 563 India +91 22 71 279 525 India +91 80 71 279 440 India +91 22 48 798 004 India +91 224 879 8012 India 000 800 040 1530 India Toll-free 000 800 050 5050 India Toll-free +62 21 2789 9657 Indonesia +62 21 3950 1721 Indonesia +62 215 086 1500 Indonesia 0 800 140 1593 Indonesia Toll-free 0 800 140 1946 Indonesia Toll-free +353 1 536 9320 Ireland +353 1 653 3895 Ireland +353 6 163 9031 Ireland 1800 901 561 Ireland Toll-free 1800 943 965 Ireland Toll-free 1800 949 238 Ireland Toll-free +972 3 978 6688 Israel +972 55 330 1762 Israel 1801 227 228 Israel Toll-free +39 020 066 7245 Italy +39 021 241 28 823 Italy +39 069 480 6488 Italy 800 088 202 Italy Toll-free 800 125 671 Italy Toll-free 800 790 654 Italy Toll-free +81 3 4578 1488 Japan +81 524 564 439 Japan 00 663 381 4092 Japan Toll-free 0 800 100 5040 Japan Toll-free 800 222 03 Jordan Toll-free +7 727 312 2408 Kazakhstan 717 272 7738 Kazakhstan Toll-free 800 720 248 Kenya Toll-free 0 800 733 310 Kenya Toll-free +965 2206 9157 Kuwait +371 6303 1808 Latvia +371 6303 1888 Latvia 8000 0281 Latvia Toll-free +370 3799 9260 Lithuania +370 5214 1488 Lithuania 8 800 303 19 Lithuania Toll-free +352 2786 1188 Luxembourg +352 2786 4277 Luxembourg 800 810 88 Luxembourg Toll-free +60 3 3099 2229 Malaysia +60 3 9212 1727 Malaysia 1 800 818 425 Malaysia Toll-free +356 2776 1777 Malta +356 2778 1288 Malta +52 229 910 0061 Mexico +52 554 161 4288 Mexico 800 062 7287 Mexico Toll-free 800 733 4118 Mexico Toll-free 800 94 362 Monaco Toll-free +212 520 205 525 Morocco 0 800 092 500 Morocco Toll-free +264 833 800 196 Namibia +31 20 241 0288 Netherlands +31 20 794 0854 Netherlands +31 20 794 7345 Netherlands 0 800 022 1954 Netherlands Toll-free 0 800 220 0040 Netherlands Toll-free 1800 001 0128 Nepal Toll-free +64 4 886 0026 New Zealand +64 9 884 6780 New Zealand 0 800 307 929 New Zealand Toll-free 0 800 527 544 New Zealand Toll-free +234 1227 8806 Nigeria 0 708 060 1822 Nigeria Toll-free +47 2396 0588 Norway +47 7349 4877 Norway 800 248 88 Norway Toll-free 800 74201 Oman Toll-free +92 21 3879 9843 Pakistan 0098 0011 0288 Paraguay Toll-free +51 1 707 5788 Peru +51 1 730 6777 Peru 0 800 76930 Peru Toll-free 0 800 78743 Peru Toll-free +63 92 3099 0478 Philippines 1800 1110 2219 Philippines Toll-free +48 22 307 3488 Poland +48 22 398 7356 Poland 00 800 112 5171 Poland Toll-free 00 800 321 1464 Poland Toll-free +351 308 804 188 Portugal +351 308 810 988 Portugal 800 780 052 Portugal Toll-free 800 780 072 Portugal Toll-free 00 800 100 059 Qatar Toll-free 00 800 100363 Qatar Toll-free +40 31 630 1088 Romania +40 37 170 0418 Romania 0 800 672 631 Romania Toll-free 0 800 890 203 Romania Toll-free +7 495 283 9788 Russian Federation +7 812 426 8988 Russian Federation 800 100 6938 Russian Federation Toll-free 8800 301 7427 Russian Federation Toll-free (Landline) 800 811 0528 Saudi Arabia Toll-free 800 814 3820 Saudi Arabia Toll-free 800 850 0304 Saudi Arabia Toll-free 0 800 500 702 Serbia Toll-free +65 3158 7288 Singapore +65 3165 1065 Singapore 800 101 3814 Singapore Toll-free 800 852 6054 Singapore Toll-free +421 233 056 888 Slovakia +421 233 418 515 Slovakia 0 800 005 424 Slovakia Toll-free 0 800 049 025 Slovakia Toll-free +27 87 550 3946 South Africa +27 87 551 7702 South Africa 0 800 008 728 South Africa Toll-free 0 800 064 584 South Africa Toll-free +386 1600 3102 Slovenia +386 1888 8788 Slovenia 0 80 488 840 Slovenia Toll-free +34 84 368 5025 Spain +34 91 787 0058 Spain +34 917 873 431 Spain 800 654 404 Spain Toll-free 800 906 063 Spain Toll-free 900 053 647 Spain Toll-free +94 7 2091 0374 Sri Lanka 112 029 070 Sri Lanka Toll-free +46 8 4468 2488 Sweden +46 8 5052 0017 Sweden +46 850 539 728 Sweden 0 200 123 514 Sweden Toll-free 0 200 123 720 Sweden Toll-free 0 808 110 091 Tanzania, United Republic of Toll-free +66 2018 2486 Thailand +66 60 003 5790 Thailand 1 800 012 275 Thailand Toll-free 1 800 013 864 Thailand Toll-free +216 31 397 748 Tunisia 0 800 501 567 Ukraine Toll-free 0 800 800 138 Ukraine Toll-free 800 035 704 239 United Arab Emirates Toll-free 800 035 704 555 United Arab Emirates Toll-free 800 0491 0899 United Arab Emirates Toll-free 0 800 100 5564 Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) Toll-free +84 28 4458 2373 Viet Nam 1203 2625 Viet Nam Toll-free 1228 0906 Viet Nam Toll-free 1800 400 332 Viet Nam Toll-free +263 864 404 1086 Zimbabwe Meeting ID: 713 479 446 Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/aepNhBXj4V Join by [email protected] Join by Skype for Businesshttps://zoom.us/skype/721919558 Information on Coronavirus Disease (COVID -19)https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019Media contactsTarik Jašarević: Mob: +41 793 676 214; Tel: +41 22 791 5099; E-mail: [email protected]éla Chaib: Mob: +41 79 475 55 56; Tel: +41 22 791 3228; Email: [email protected] or [email protected] regards,WHO Media Team

WHAT: Virtual Press Conference for journalists and live webcast.An audio file of the press conference will be distributed to journalists shortly after the conference ends. A transcript will follow.HOW: Journalists can dial-in or attend the press conference in personThe virtual press conference will also be broadcast live on WHO Twitter account @WHOWHEN: Today, Friday 14 February 2020, at 16:00 Geneva time