WHO / COVID-19 EMERGENCY COMMITTEE

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that since the July meeting of the International Health Regulations (IRH) Emergency Committee on COVID-19, “many things have evolved, both for the positive and for the negative.” WHO

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:03:21
• Production Date: 29 October 2020
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: TEDROS GHEBREYESUS
• Corporate Name: WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION - WHO
• Subject Topical: DISEASE CONTROL; HEALTH
• MAMS Id: 2576415
• Parent Id: 2576415
• Alternate Title: unifeed201029d

Description

STORY: WHO / COVID-19 UPDATE
TRT: 04:18
SOURCE: WHO
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 15 SEPTEMBER 2020, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / FILE

Shotlist

FILE – RECENT - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

1. Various shots, exterior, WHO Headquarters

15 SEPTEMBER 2020, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

2. Wide shot, WHO officials at press conference
3. Various shots, participants
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
"Since the Emergency Committee last met in July, many things have evolved, both for the positive and for the negative. We know much more about the virus now. The epidemiological patterns and options for treatment are better understood. We have gathered evidence and best practices for breaking chains of transmission. We have learned to respond in a more targeted and tailored manner.”
5. Various shots, participants
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
"But we also face new challenges. We are particularly concerned about issues of community engagement and the politization of the response. This pandemic is far from over. We need to adjust all our efforts to be suitable for the long run. Strong leadership integrated in a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach will help to sustain a consistent and robust response. Mental health must be an integral part of all response efforts.”
7. Med shot, participants
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
"Basic epidemiological interventions such as contact tracing and surveillance remain the most critical and effective interventions that break chains of transmission. But we also need to get better at engaging individuals and communities to support the COVID-19 response. This is key for any public health intervention. There are a number of areas that require further consideration, and I welcome your advice. These include: Establishing sustainable long-term response strategies. Refining indicators for risk management. Implementing time-limited public health, social and travel measures, which are based on risk assessments and scientific evaluations. Maintaining basic epidemiological interventions such as contact tracing and surveillance. Addressing misinformation and infodemics. Readying countries for the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines and avoiding vaccine nationalism. And how countries can best report to WHO on their progress on implementing the temporary recommendations.”
9. Various shots, participants

Storyline

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, today (29 Oct) said that since the July meeting of the International Health Regulations (IRH) Emergency Committee on COVID-19, “many things have evolved, both for the positive and for the negative.”

Addressing the Committee, Dr. Tedros said “we know much more about the virus now. The epidemiological patterns and options for treatment are better understood. We have gathered evidence and best practices for breaking chains of transmission. We have learned to respond in a more targeted and tailored manner. "

On the other hand, he said, “we also face new challenges. We are particularly concerned about issues of community engagement and the politization of the response.”

The Director-General said, “this pandemic is far from over. We need to adjust all our efforts to be suitable for the long run. Strong leadership integrated in a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach will help to sustain a consistent and robust response. Mental health must be an integral part of all response efforts."

Dr. Tedros stressed that “basic epidemiological interventions such as contact tracing and surveillance remain the most critical and effective interventions that break chains of transmission. But we also need to get better at engaging individuals and communities to support the COVID-19 response. This is key for any public health intervention.”

He said there are areas that require further consideration, including “establishing sustainable long-term response strategies. Refining indicators for risk management. Implementing time-limited public health, social and travel measures, which are based on risk assessments and scientific evaluations. Maintaining basic epidemiological interventions such as contact tracing and surveillance. Addressing misinformation andinfodemics. Readying countries for the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines and avoiding vaccine nationalism. And how countries can best report to WHO on their progress on implementing the temporary recommendations. "

The IHR Emergency Committee for COVID-19 held its first meeting on 22 and 23 January 2020. On 30 January 2020, following its second meeting, the Director-General declared that the outbreak constituted a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, accepted the Committee’s advice and issued it as IHR Temporary Recommendations. The Committee continues to meet on a regular basis.