Admin Posted February 18, 2020 Report Posted February 18, 2020 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
Admin Posted February 18, 2020 Author Report Posted February 18, 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 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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 SIP[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]
Admin Posted February 18, 2020 Author Report Posted February 18, 2020 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
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
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