{"id":155365,"date":"2020-03-02T12:01:36","date_gmt":"2020-03-02T12:01:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=155365"},"modified":"2020-12-02T10:27:07","modified_gmt":"2020-12-02T10:27:07","slug":"covid-19-more-new-virus-cases-outside-than-inside-china-no-time-for-complacency-says-un-health-agency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2020\/03\/covid-19-more-new-virus-cases-outside-than-inside-china-no-time-for-complacency-says-un-health-agency\/","title":{"rendered":"COVID-19: More New Virus Cases outside Than inside China&#8211;\u2018No Time for Complacency\u2019, Says UN Health Agency"},"content":{"rendered":"<blockquote><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-109474\" src=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/un-news-logo-e1568706362531.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>26 Feb 2020 &#8211; <em>The number of new COVID-19, or coronavirus, infections outside China has outpaced those inside the country for the first time, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).\u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WHO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" class=\"twitter-timeline\" data-width=\"500\" data-height=\"750\" data-dnt=\"true\" >Tweets by WHO<\/a><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe sudden increases of cases in Italy, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Korea are deeply concerning\u201d, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.who.int\/en\/\" class=\"word-link\" title=\"World Health Organization\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">WHO<\/a> Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/dg\/speeches\/detail\/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-mission-briefing-on-covid-19---26-february-2020\" >said <\/a>at a briefing in Geneva on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>He stated that there are now cases linked to Iran in Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait and Oman and to Italy in Algeria, Austria, Croatia, Germany, Spain and Switzerland.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYesterday, a joint team between WHO and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control arrived in Rome to review the public health measures that have been put in place and provide technical support\u201d, he informed, saying that over the weekend aWHO team will travel to Iran to provide support.<\/p>\n<p>One of the biggest challenges the UN health agency faces is that too many affected countries are still not sharing data with WHO.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWHO cannot provide appropriate public health guidance without disaggregated data and detailed line lists\u201d, said Mr. Ghebreyesus. \u201cWe\u2019re communicating with ministers directly, there is some improvement, and we urge all countries to share this data with WHO immediately\u201d.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_155376\" style=\"width: 610px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/coronavirus-china.jpg\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-155376\" class=\"wp-image-155376\" src=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/coronavirus-china-1024x461.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"270\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/coronavirus-china-1024x461.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/coronavirus-china-300x135.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/coronavirus-china-768x346.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/coronavirus-china.jpg 1178w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-155376\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A messenger leaves packages at an outdoor drop-off location as he is not allowed to enter buildings during the coronavirus outbreak in China. Man Yi<\/p><\/div>\n<h3>Not a pandemic<\/h3>\n<p>The increase in cases outside China has prompted some media and politicians to push for a pandemic to be declared.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe should not be too eager to declare a pandemic without a careful and clear-minded analysis of the facts\u201d, he maintained, reminding that WHO has already declared it highest level of alarm: a public health emergency of international concern.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUsing the word pandemic carelessly has no tangible benefit, but it does have significant risk in terms of amplifying unnecessary and unjustified fear and stigma, and paralyzing systems\u201d, he explained. \u201cIt may also signal that we can no longer contain the virus, which is not true\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>The head of WHO maintained that the fight can be won \u201cif we do the right things\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>While affirming that \u201cwe will not hesitate to use the word pandemic if it is an accurate description of the situation\u201d, Mr. Ghebreyesus said that WHO is monitoring the epidemic around the clock and engaging internal and experts on this issue and has witnessed \u201cno sustained and intensive community transmission\u201d of this virus, nor \u201clarge-scale severe disease or death\u201d.<\/p>\n<h3>Prepare for the worst<\/h3>\n<p>China has fewer than 80,000 cases in a population of 1.4 billion people. In the rest of the world, there are 2,790 cases, in a population of 6.3 billion.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo not mistake me\u201d, he said, \u201cI am not downplaying the seriousness of the situation, or the potential for this to become a pandemic\u2026every scenario is still on the table\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>The WHO chief spelled out: \u201cThe primary objective of all countries with cases must be to contain the virus\u201d, and \u201call countries, whether they have cases or not, must prepare for a potential pandemic\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Every country needs to be ready to detect cases early, to isolate patients, trace contacts, provide quality clinical care, prevent hospital outbreaks, and prevent community transmission. And WHO is providing tools to prepare, accordingly.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3><em>Three priorities:<\/em><\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n<ol>\n<li><em>All countries must prioritize protecting health workers.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Communities must safeguard their most at-risk people, particularly the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em> Vulnerable countries must be protected by containing epidemics in countries with the capacity to do so.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>\u201cThis is no time for complacency\u201d, he underscored. \u201cThis is a time for continued vigilance\u201d.<\/p>\n<h3>WHO-China joint mission<\/h3>\n<p>As of Wednesday morning, China had reported 78,190 cases to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.who.int\/en\/\" class=\"word-link\" title=\"World Health Organization\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">WHO<\/a>, including 2,718 deaths and reported only 10 new cases outside of Hubei province.<\/p>\n<p>The results of a WHO-China joint mission to assess the rapidly evolving epidemic revealed a range of findings about the transmissibility of the virus, the severity of disease and the impact of the measures taken.<\/p>\n<p>Having traveled to several different provinces, including Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, the team found that the epidemic peaked and plateaued between the 23 January and 2 February, and has been declining steadily since then.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey have found that there has been no significant change in the genetic makeup of the virus\u201d, said Mr. Ghebreyesus. \u201cThe team also estimate that the measures taken in China have averted a significant number of cases\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>While the report contains a wealth of other information and includes 22 recommendations, the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.who.int\/en\/\" class=\"word-link\" title=\"World Health Organization\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">WHO<\/a> chief said, \u201cthe key message that should give all countries hope, courage and confidence is that this virus can be contained\u201d.<\/p>\n<h3>Socio-economic damages<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cWe are not just fighting to contain a virus and save lives\u201d, underscored Mr. Ghebreyesus. \u201cWe are also in a fight to contain the social and economic damage a global pandemic could do\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>He said that WHO is working with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.imf.org\/external\/index.htm\" class=\"word-link\" title=\"International Monetary Fund (IMF)\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">IMF<\/a>) to estimate the potential economic impact of the epidemic and develop a strategy and policy options for mitigation.<\/p>\n<p>In closing he affirmed, \u201cthis is a time for global solidarity \u2013 political solidarity, technical solidarity and financial solidarity. That is the only way to prevent infections and save lives\u201d.<\/p>\n<h3>Responsibility and coordination<\/h3>\n<p>Meanwhile, WHO and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) issued a joint <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.unwto.org\/news\/unwto-who-a-joint-statement-on-tourism-and-covid-19\" >statement <\/a>solidifying their commitment to work together in guiding the travel and tourism sectors\u2019 response to COVID-19.<\/p>\n<p>Stressing that \u201ccooperation is key\u201d, the UN agencies are working in close consultation and with other partners to assist States in ensuring that health measures be implemented in ways that minimize unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em><strong>Tourism\u2019s response needs to be measured and consistent, proportionate to the public health threat &#8212; <\/strong><\/em><strong>UN agencies<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cTourism\u2019s response needs to be measured and consistent, proportionate to the public health threat and based on local risk assessment\u2026in line with WHO\u2019s overall guidance and recommendations\u201d, read the statement.<\/p>\n<p>Both stand ready to work with those communities and countries affected by the current health emergency.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTravel restrictions going beyond these may cause unnecessary interference with international traffic, including negative repercussions on the tourism sector\u201d, concluded the statement.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/news.un.org\/en\/events\/un-news-coverage-coronavirus-outbreak\" >Go to our special page for full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/news.un.org\/en\/story\/2020\/02\/1058141\" >Go to Original &#8211; news.un.org<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>26 Feb 2020 &#8211; The number of new COVID-19, or coronavirus, infections outside China has outpaced those inside the country for the first time, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":109474,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2236],"tags":[239,244,1829,1698,710,1102,304,1447,124,1836,75],"class_list":["post-155365","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-covid19-coronavirus","tag-brics","tag-china","tag-coronavirus","tag-epidemics","tag-health","tag-public-health","tag-science","tag-science-and-medicine","tag-united-nations","tag-who","tag-world"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155365","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=155365"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155365\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/109474"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=155365"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=155365"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=155365"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}