WHO Emergency Committee Thursday January 30

[Admin]

WHO Emergency Committee Thursday January 30th

[Admin]

Dear journalists,

Please note that the press briefing will be delayd

We expect to begin at 20:30 Geneva time

Thank you for understanding



 

INTERNATIONAL HEALTH REGULATIONS EMERGENCY COMMITTEE ON NOVEL CORONAVIRUS IN CHINA

INVITATION TO A VIRTUAL PRESS CONFERENCE

 
The Emergency Committee on the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) under the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) is re-convened by the World Health Organization Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

The meeting is planned to start today at 13:30 Geneva time and the press conference tentatively scheduled for 20:30 Geneva time

The Committee will advise the Director-General on whether the outbreak constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), and what recommendations should be made to manage it.

The Director-General’s decision, following the Committee’s advice, will be made public on WHO’s website and via a press conference (details below). The recommendations will also be made public.

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: The virtual press conference will be broadcast live on WHO Twitter account @WHO and Facebook page

WHEN: Today, Thursday 30 January 2020, at 20:30 Geneva time (please note the press conference may be delayed if the meeting does not conclude on time).

WHERE: Journalists can dial-in or attend the press conference in person in Salle C (5TH floor). The room will be accessible from 17:00.

UN Palais journalists do not need to be accredited. Those outside wanting to attend in person should request media accreditation by contacting Carla Drysdale at [email protected] and register at  http://indico.un.org/e/EmergencyCommittee/Jan2020/3

If you would like to register in advance, please email scanned press card and official photo ID.

WHO: Speakers to be confirmed ahead of the press conference
 
How to access the Virtual Press Conference –  30  January 2020 at 20:30

Please try to call in at least 10 minutes before the conference begins in order to be registered correctly. From the list below, please use the number closest to you. If you have problems with a number, try the toll number from a neighbouring country or call Switzerland: +41 44 580 6522, or France +33 1 70709502, or United States +1 855 402 7766. You can also use a VoIP programme such as Skype to call the US toll-free: +1 877 423 0830

On connecting, type PIN code:  on your telephone keypad and then record your name and media outlet and then press again the # key. Please note, only participants who have clearly identified themselves and their media outlet will be able to ask questions.

To ask a question during the question and answer session, registered participants should type 01 on their telephone keypad, this will place you in the queue to ask questions.

International access numbers

	Toll free			toll
Australia				+61284058534
Austria				+4319286161
Belgium				+3224019516
Brazil				+551138788013
Bulgaria				+35929358132
Canada	18552409492			+14162164179
China				+864008982828
Croatia	08009640
Czech Republic				+420225439716
Denmark				+4582333179
Estonia				+3726868832
Finland				+358981710375
France	0805639972			+33170709502
Germany (Frankfurt)	08008050102 (DE) 08008050115 (EN)			+4969201744220 (DE) +4969201744210 (EN)
Hong Kong				+85230773573
Hungary				+3612355214
Iceland	8008322
Ireland				+35314475418
Israel				+97237207677
India				+912261875202
Italy				+390236006663
Japan				+81344556498
Latvia					80004473
Luxemburg				+35227302111
Malaysia				+60320531808
Mexico					+525550913011
Netherlands				+31207168020
Norway				+4723500271
Poland				+48225844205
Portugal					+351213164197
Romania					+40216550893
Russia				+74956469313
Saudi Arabia					8008143583
Serbia					0800190539
Singapore				+6564298399
Slovakia					+421250112036
Slovenia					+38618888475
South Africa					+27216724121
South Korea					+827076860214
Spain				+34914142009
Sweden			+46850644386
Switzerland		0800001875	+41445806522
Thailand			0018008524707
Turkey			+902123755126
United Kingdom		08002794054	+442030092470
United States		+18774230830

Background links:
 
List of members of the Emergency Committee can be found here:
https://www.who.int/ihr/procedures/novel-coronavirus-2019/ec-22012020-members/en/
 
International Health Regulations
http://www.who.int/topics/international_health_regulations/en/
 
Q&A on the International Health Regulations
http://www.who.int/features/qa/emergency-committees/en/
 
Information on Novel Coronavirus
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
 
Media contacts
 
Tarik Jašarević: Mob: +41 793 676 214; Tel: +41 22 791 5099; E-mail:  [email protected]
 
Fadéla Chaib: Mob: +41794755556 ; Tel: + 41227913228; Email: [email protected]
 
Christian Lindmeier: Mob: +41 79 5006552; Tel: +41 22 791 1948; Email: [email protected]
 
Or [email protected]

 The virtual press conference will be broadcast live on WHO Twitter account @WHO and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/WHO

[Admin]

World Health Organization Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Declares a Public Health Emergency of International Concern

[Admin]

Statement on the second meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding the outbreak of novel coronavirus 2019 (n-CoV) on 30 January 2020

https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/30-01-2020-statement-on-the-second-meeting-of-the-international-health-regulations-(2005)-emergency-committee-regarding-the-outbreak-of-novel-coronavirus-(2019-ncov)

The second meeting of the Emergency Committee convened by the WHO Director-General under the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) regarding the outbreak of novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV in the People’s Republic of China, with exportations to other countries, took place on Thursday, 30 January 2020, from 13:30 to 18:35 Geneva time (CEST). The Committee’s role is to give advice to the Director-General, who makes the final decision on the determination of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The Committee also provides public health advice or suggests formal

Temporary Recommendations as appropriate.

Proceedings of the meeting

Members and advisors of the Emergency Committee were convened by teleconference.

The Director-General welcomed the Committee and thanked them for their support. He turned the meeting over to the Chair, Professor Didier Houssin.

Professor Houssin also welcomed the Committee and gave the floor to the Secretariat.

A representative of the department of Compliance, Risk management, and Ethics briefed the Committee members on their roles and responsibilities.
Committee members were reminded of their duty of confidentiality and their responsibility to disclose personal, financial, or professional connections that might be seen to constitute a conflict of interest. Each member who was present was surveyed and no conflicts of interest were judged to be relevant to the meeting. There were no changes since the previous meeting. 

The Chair then reviewed the agenda for the meeting and introduced the presenters.

Representatives of the Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China reported on the current situation and the public health measures being taken.
There are now 7711 confirmed and 12167 suspected cases throughout the country. Of the confirmed cases, 1370 are severe and 170 people have died. 124 people have recovered and been discharged from hospital.

The WHO Secretariat provided an overview of the situation in other countries. There are now 82 cases in 18 countries. Of these, only 7 had no history of travel in China. There has been human-to-human transmission in 3 countries outside China. One of these cases is severe and there have been no deaths.
At its first meeting, the Committee expressed divergent views on whether this event constitutes a PHEIC or not. At that time, the advice was that the event did not constitute a PHEIC, but the Committee members agreed on the urgency of the situation and suggested that the Committee should continue its meeting on the next day, when it reached the same conclusion.  

This second meeting takes place in view of significant increases in numbers of cases and additional countries reporting confirmed cases.

Conclusions and advice

The Committee welcomed the leadership and political commitment of the very highest levels of Chinese government authorities, their commitment to transparency, and the efforts made to investigate and contain the current outbreak. China quickly identified the virus and shared its sequence, so that other countries could diagnose it quickly and protect themselves, which has resulted in the rapid development of diagnostic tools.

The very strong measures the country has taken include daily contact with WHO and comprehensive multi-sectoral approaches to prevent further spread. It has also taken public health measures in other cities and provinces; is conducting studies on the severity and transmissibility of the virus and sharing data and biological material. The country has also agreed to work with other countries who need their support. The measures China has taken are good not only for that country but also for the rest of the world.

The Committee acknowledged the leading role of WHO and its partners.

The Committee also acknowledged that there are still many unknowns, cases have now been reported in five WHO regions in one month, and human-to-human transmission has occurred outside Wuhan and outside China.

The Committee believes that it is still possible to interrupt virus spread, provided that countries put in place strong measures to detect disease early, isolate and treat cases, trace contacts, and promote social distancing measures commensurate with the risk. It is important to note that as the situation continues to evolve, so will the strategic goals and measures to prevent and reduce spread of the infection. The Committee agreed that the outbreak now meets the criteria for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and proposed the following advice to be issued as Temporary Recommendations.

The Committee emphasized that the declaration of a PHEIC should be seen in the spirit of support and appreciation for China, its people, and the actions China has taken on the frontlines of this outbreak, with transparency, and, it is to be hoped, with success. In line with the need for global solidarity, the committee felt that a global coordinated effort is needed to enhance preparedness in other regions of the world that may need additional support for that.
 
Advice to WHO

The Committee welcomed a forthcoming WHO multidisciplinary technical mission to China, including national experts. The mission should review and support efforts to investigate the animal source of the outbreak, the clinical spectrum of the disease and its severity, the extent of human-to-human transmission in the community and in healthcare facilities, and efforts to control the outbreak. This mission will provide information to the international community to aid in understanding the situation and its impact and enable sharing of experience and successful measures.

The Committee wished to re-emphasize the importance of studying the possible source, to rule out ongoing hidden transmission.

The Committee also emphasized the need for enhanced surveillance in regions outside Hubei, including pathogen genomic sequencing, to understand whether local cycles of transmission are occurring 

The Committee would welcome strong leadership to engage in the discussion about proportionality in control measures, particularly with regard to potentially damaging travel and trade restrictions.  

WHO should continue to use its networks of technical experts to assess how best this outbreak can be contained globally.

WHO should provide intensified support for preparation and response, especially in vulnerable countries and regions.

Measures to ensure rapid development and access to potential vaccines, diagnostics, antiviral medicines and other therapeutics for low- and middle-income countries should be developed.

WHO should continue to provide all necessary technical and operational support to respond to this outbreak, including with its extensive networks of partners and collaborating institutions, to implement a comprehensive risk communication strategy, and to allow for the advancement of research and scientific developments in relation to this novel coronavirus.

WHO should continue to explore the advisability of creating an intermediate level of alert between the binary possibilities of PHEIC or no PHEIC, in a way that does not require reopening negotiations on the text of the IHR (2005).
 
The Director-General declared that the outbreak of 2019-nCoV constitutes a PHEIC, accepted the Committee’s advice and issued this advice as Temporary Recommendations under the IHR (2005).
 
To the People’s Republic of China

Continue to:

• Implement a comprehensive risk communication strategy to regularly inform the population on the evolution of the outbreak, the prevention and protection measures for the population, and the response measures taken for its containment. 
• Enhance rational public health measures for containment of the current outbreak.
• Ensure the resilience of the health system and protect the health workforce.  
• Enhance surveillance and active case finding across China.
• Collaborate with WHO and partners to conduct investigations to understand the epidemiology and the evolution of this outbreak and measures to contain it.
• Share full data on all human cases.
• Strengthen the efforts to identify a zoonotic source of the outbreak, and particularly the potential for ongoing circulation with WHO as soon as it becomes available.
• Conduct exit screening at international airports and ports, with the aim of early detection of symptomatic travelers for further evaluation and treatment, while minimizing interference with international traffic.

 
To all countries

It is expected that further international exportation of cases may appear in any country. Thus, all countries should be prepared for containment, including active surveillance, early detection, isolation and case management, contact tracing and prevention of onward spread of 2019-nCoV infection, and to share full data with WHO. Technical advice is available on the WHO website [LINK].
 
Countries are reminded that they are legally required to share information with WHO under the IHR (2005).
 
Countries should place particular emphasis on reducing human infection, prevention of secondary transmission and international spread, and contributing to the international response though multi-sectoral communication and collaboration and active participation in increasing knowledge on the virus and the disease, as well as advancing research.
 
The Committee acknowledged that, in general, evidence has shown that restricting the movement of people and goods during public health emergencies may be ineffective and may divert resources from other interventions. Further, restrictions may interrupt needed aid and technical support, may disrupt businesses, and may have negative effects on the economies of countries affected by the emergencies.  

However, in certain specific circumstances, measures that restrict the movement of people may prove temporarily useful, such as in settings with limited response capacities and capabilities, or where there is high intensity of transmission among vulnerable populations.
 
In such situations, countries should perform risk and cost-benefit analyses before implementing such restrictions to assess whether the benefits would outweigh the drawbacks. Countries must inform WHO about any travel measures taken, as required by the IHR. Countries are cautioned against actions that promote stigma or discrimination, in line with the principles of Article 3 of the IHR.
 
The Committee asked the Director-General to provide further advice on these matters and, if necessary, to make new case-by-case recommendations, in view of this rapidly evolving situation.
 
To the global community

As this is a new coronavirus, and it has been previously shown that similar coronaviruses required substantial efforts to enable regular information sharing and research, the global community should continue to demonstrate solidarity and cooperation, in compliance with Article 44 of the IHR (2005), in supporting each other on the identification of the source of this new virus, its full potential for human-to-human transmission, preparedness for potential importation of cases, and research for developing necessary treatment.

Provide support to low- and middle-income countries to enable their response to this event, as well as to facilitate access to diagnostics, potential vaccines and therapeutics.

Under Article 43 of the IHR, States Parties implementing additional health measures that significantly interfere with international traffic (refusal of entry or departure of international travellers, baggage, cargo, containers, conveyances, goods, and the like, or their delay, for more than 24 hours) are obliged to send to WHO the public health rationale and justification within 48 hours of their implementation. WHO will review the justification and may request countries to reconsider their measures. WHO is required to share with other States Parties the information about measures and the justification received.
 
The Emergency Committee will be reconvened within three months or earlier, at the discretion of the Director-General.
 
The Director-General thanked the Committee for its work.
 

[Jon Schultz]

WHO: World currently 'not in a pandemic' of coronavirus

Sylvie Briand, director of global infectious hazard preparedness at the World Health Organization (WHO), said: "Currently we are not in a pandemic", we are at a phase where we have an epidemic of coronavirus with multiple foci and we try to extinguish each of these foci.

She also said the WHO was working with different countries on repatriation of people from China, having "intense discussions to see how we can harmonise the practices".

Briand said the WHO currently has no evidence of mutation of the virus, adding that "it is quite a stable virus".

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/02/china-admits-shortcomings-coronavirus-death-toll-hits-425-200203234036932.html

Any guess as to why they are saying this about mutations, Dr. Niman? They must know about the ones you are seeing.

 

[Jon Schultz]

I may have figured it out. I posted this at a site:

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3048772/striking-coronavirus-mutations-found-within-one-family-cluster

Meanwhile, Sylvie Briand, Director of Global Infectious Hazard Preparedness at the World Health Organization (WHO) made what could be a scandalous statement, "It is quite a stable virus," in light of what the Chinese scientists quoted in the SCMP article above and Dr. Henry Niman, quoted below, are saying. If these scientists are correct, the WHO should be well aware of it. Of course the WHO may have to make concessions at times, i.e. by publicly praising a country in order to get its cooperation, so making a statement they know is false may in fact be in the public interest (or at least that may be their intention).

[CoffeeLover]

Mutations and/or recombining?  Confusing... especially when remembering the bird/swine flu.