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STORY: WHO / COVID-19 UPDATE
TRT: 3:51
SOURCE: WHO
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 10 APRIL 2020, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
FILE – GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Wide shot, WHO headquarters exterior
10 APRIL 2020, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
2. Wide shot, press briefing room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
“We have seen an alarming acceleration in other countries. I want to take a moment to highlight Africa, where we are seeing the spread of the virus to rural areas. We are now seeing clusters of cases and community spread in more than 16 countries. We anticipate severe hardship for already overstretched health systems, particularly in rural areas, which normally lack the resources of those in cities.”
4. Close up, videographer
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
“I know that some countries are already planning the transition out of stay-at-home restrictions. WHO wants to see restrictions lifted as much as anyone. At the same time, lifting restrictions too quickly could lead to a deadly resurgence. The way down can be as dangerous as the way up if not managed properly.”
6. Med shot, Dr. Ryan at press conference
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
“We are particularly concerned by the large numbers of infections reported among health workers. In some countries there are reports of more than ten percent of health workers being infected. This is an alarming trend. When health workers are at risk, we’re all at risk.”
8. Med shot, journalist
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
“We estimate this supply chain may need to cover more than 30 percent of the world’s needs in the acute phase of the pandemic. Every month, we will need to ship at least 100 million medical masks and gloves; up to 25 million N95 respirators, gowns and face-shields; up to 2.5 million diagnostic tests; and large quantities of oxygen concentrators and other equipment for clinical care. To move these supplies around the world, the World Food Programme will deploy eight 747 aircraft, eight medium-sized cargo aircraft, and several smaller passenger planes to move humanitarian workers, technical staff, trainers and other personnel.”
10. Wide shot, Dr. Ryan speaking at briefing
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Micheal Ryan, Executive Director, Health Emergencies Programme, World Health Organization:
“In general, the PCR based tests are better for telling whether you're infected or not. And serology test or the blood test is better to detect whether you've been infected recently or in the past.”
12. Med shot, Dr. Van Kerkhove at briefing
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
“Countries who, you know, relatively have the strongest health systems have been actually surprised by this pandemic. It shows that any system could have gaps. And we should have the humility to see to what extent our system is prepared and where are the gaps and how can we improve it for the future.”
14. Wide shot, press briefing room
WHO chief Tedros Ghebreyesus said his organization wanted to see stay-at-home restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic lifted “as much as anyone” but stressed that the “way down can be as dangerous as the way up if not managed properly.”
Speaking at a briefing in Geneva today (10 Apr), Tedros said some countries were already planning the transition out of stay-at-home restrictions but warned that lifting these restrictions “too quickly could lead to a deadly resurgence.”
He said there has been an “alarming acceleration” in some countries. Highlighting Africa, the WHO chief said the virus was appearing in rural areas. He said, “We are now seeing clusters of cases and community spread in more than 16 countries. We anticipate severe hardship for already overstretched health systems, particularly in rural areas, which normally lack the resources of those in cities.”
The WHO chief expressed particular concern over the large numbers of infections reported among health workers. He added, “In some countries there are reports of more than ten percent of health workers being infected. This is an alarming trend. When health workers are at risk, we’re all at risk.”
Tedros said a new United Nations Supply Chain Task Force would be coordinated by WHO and the World Food Programme. The Task Force will coordinate and scale up the procurement and distribution of personal protective equipment, lab diagnostics and oxygen to the countries that need it most.
SOUNDBITE (English) Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
“We estimate this supply chain may need to cover more than 30 percent of the world’s needs in the acute phase of the pandemic. Every month, we will need to ship at least 100 million medical masks and gloves; up to 25 million N95 respirators, gowns and face-shields; up to 2.5 million diagnostic tests; and large quantities of oxygen concentrators and other equipment for clinical care. To move these supplies around the world, the World Food Programme will deploy eight 747 aircraft, eight medium-sized cargo aircraft, and several smaller passenger planes to move humanitarian workers, technical staff, trainers and other personnel.”
Tedros said countries with relatively the strongest health systems “have been actually surprised by this pandemic.” He said, “It shows that any system could have gaps. And we should have the humility to see to what extent our system is prepared and where are the gaps and how can we improve it for the future.”
