The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
UN Chief urges countries to ‘do everything’ against COVID-19, thanks China’s people for sacrifice
While the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the COVID-19 outbreak should not be described as a pandemic because it is not spreading uncontrollably, UN Secretary-General on Monday urged all countries to “do everything” to contain the disease.
“I think it’s important to say that all countries - and this is now a problem that is affecting many countries in the world – all countries must do everything to be prepared and all countries must do everything respecting naturally the principle of non-discrimination, without stigmatization, respecting human rights; doing everything that they can to contain the disease,” said António Guterres.
Although it was still possible to contain the disease “if some fail, if some do not do everything that is needed, this can still become out of control with dramatic consequences for global health and the global economy”, he warned.
Earlier, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told journalists that while a “sudden increase” in new cases outside China was very concerning, what was most needed was containment, not scaremongering.
As of 6am Geneva time on Monday, China reported a total of 77,362 cases of COVID-19, including 2,618 deaths, he said.
Outside China, “there are now 2074 cases in 28 countries, and 23 deaths...The sudden increases of cases in Italy, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Korea are deeply concerning,” he said.
In the past 24 hours, China reported 416 new confirmed cases, and 150 deaths, Dr Tedros noted, adding that the WHO team of experts which visited China had found that the epidemic “peaked and plateaued” between 23 January and 2 February “and has been declining steadily since then”.
Speaking in Geneva at WHO headquarters, Mr Guterres reiterated his “strong appeal” to countries “to assume their responsibilities and knowing that they can fully count on WHO to support them in that effort”.
On the need to support the UN health agency’s $675 million appeal to stop coronavirus from spreading further, Mr Guterres insisted that “if there is something stupid to do in today’s world, it is to not fully fund WHO appeals. Because WHO appeals are vital to support Member States to avoid these tragic diseases to become a global nightmare.”
Answering a reporter’s question in French, he said: ”I can tell you that the information I received from the WHO after the (experts’) visit to China, is that since the beginning of February, the number of cases is starting to fall. I hope that this situation continues in a constant way, and my message to all those who now in China are having to go without a lot of things that are part of normal life, is a message of gratitude – because these are sacrifices that have been made by people who’ve been deprived of all the positive things of life that we enjoy. Those who’ve been deprived of those things to avoid the virus spreading are in the process of doing a great service for humanity.”
- Medium shot: exterior at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva showing António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, approaching and hugging WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
- Medium shot: Mr Guterres walks with Dr Tedros and team through WHO lobby.
- Close up: Mr Guterres shown listening to Dr Tedros and greeting well-wishers (off camera) team through WHO lobby.
- Wide shot: Mr Guterres walking through WHO lobby flanked by onlookers; journalists and photographers.
- SOUNDBITE (EN) — António Guterres, UN Secretary-General: “I think it’s important to say that all countries - and this is now a problem that is affecting many countries in the world – all countries must do everything to be prepared and all countries must do everything respecting naturally the principle of non-discrimination, without stigmatization, respecting human rights; doing everything that they can to contain the disease.”
- Medium shot: Mr Guterres arriving for WHO press conference, Dr Tedros behind.
- SOUNDBITE (EN) — António Guterres, UN Secretary-General: “The disease, it’s still possible to be contained, but if some fail, if some do not do everything that is needed, this can still become out of control with dramatic consequences for global health and the global economy.”
- Medium shot: Press conference participants.
- SOUNDBITE (EN) — António Guterres, UN Secretary-General: “So, my strong appeal is to all countries to assume their responsibilities and knowing that they can fully count on WHO to support them in that effort.”
- Close-up: partly obscured TV camera operator, Mr Guterres and participants.
- SOUNDBITE (EN) — António Guterres, UN Secretary-General: “If there is something stupid to do in today’s world, it is to not fully fund WHO appeals. Because WHO appeals are vital to support Member States to avoid these tragic diseases to become a global nightmare.”
- Medium shot, Mr Guterres inspecting a wall-mounted TV screen displaying polio eradication information.
- Close-up, Mr Guterres and Dr Tedros shown listening to an unnamed speaker.
- SOUNDBITE (FR) — SOUNDBITE (EN) — António Guterres, UN Secretary-General: « Je tiens à vous transmettre que l’information que j’ai obtenu de l’organisation mondiale de la santé d’après la visite récemment faite en Chine, c’est que depuis le commencement du mois de février, le nombre de cas est en train de baisser. J’espère que cette indication puisse être maintenue, d’une façon continuée, et mon message à tous ceux qui maintenant en Chine sont privés de beaucoup des aspects d’une vie normale, c’est un message de gratitude, parce que ce sont les sacrifices de ceux qui sont privés de tous les aspects positifs de la vie dont nous jouissons, ceux qui sont privés de ça pour éviter que la maladie se propage, sont en train de rendre service à l’humanité. »
- Medium shot: Mr Guterres and Dr Tedros shown chatting with an unnamed speaker, all are looking at a wall-mounted TV displaying Ebola virus outbreak data from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Close up: Mr. Guterres, Dr Tedros and other speakers shown looking out of shot while unnamed speaker gives presentation on Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Medium shot: Mr Guterres shown listening to information on Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , HRC
Volker Türk, the UN Human Rights High Commissioner, made the following remarks during a briefing to a Special Session on Iran at the Human Rights Council.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNRWA , UNOPS , UNIS
Amid the launch of President Trump's Board of Peace and reconstruction talks on Gaza, UN aid agencies insisted on Friday that what Gazans need most is immediate relief from the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe there.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | IFRC , IOM , UNOPS , UNRWA , WHO
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, the United Nations Office for Project Services, the UN International Organization for Migration, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
2
6
1
2
Edited News , Press Conferences , Images | HRC
At UN, war crimes probe pledges to continue to work for all impacted by Hamas-Israel conflict
As President Trump launched the international Board of Peace plan for Gaza on Thursday, top independent rights experts tasked by the UN Human Rights Council with investigating grave abuses linked to the Hamas-Israel war pledged to continue their work seeking justice and accountability for all.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said Tuesday UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk was outraged by the repeated large-scale attacks by the Russian Federation on energy infrastructure in Ukraine.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
UN warns against repeating abuses in South Kordofan that occurred in El Fasher.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF
Mozambique floods heighten disease, malnutrition risks – UN agencies
Catastrophic flooding in Mozambique is causing massive disruption to lives and livelihoods across the country, increasing the risk of disease and exposing urban areas to crocodiles, UN humanitarians warned on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OCHA , OHCHR , UNCTAD , UNICEF , UNECE
Rolando Gómez, Chief of Press and External Relations Section, United Nations Information Service (UNIS) at Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the United Nations Trade and Development.
2
1
2
Press Conferences , Edited News | OCHA
Yemen: Children are dying and it’s going to get worse, aid veteran warns
In Yemen, renewed political instability threatens and economic woes linked to the war to complicate the already difficult task of helping vulnerable people suffering from deepening hunger, illness and displacement, the UN's top aid official there said on Monday.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNICEF , IFRC
Ukraine: Families in ‘survival mode’ amid Russian strikes and -18°C cold
Families across Ukraine are in “constant survival mode” amid ongoing waves of Russian missile and drone strikes that have left blocks without power for days at a time, while temperatures plunge to a deadly -18°C (-0.4°F), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Friday.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | HRC , UNICEF , IFRC , WFP , WHO , UNHCR
Rolando Gómez, Chief of Press and External Relations Section, UN Information Service at Geneva (UNIS), chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives of the United Nations Children’s Fund, the International Federation of the Red Cross, the World Food Programme, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the World Health Organization.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
At the bi-weekly press conference in Geneva, UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence urges Iranian authorities to end violent repression and calls for accountability.