The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
Amid the significant increase in numbers of infections of the novel coronavirus and additional countries reporting confirmed cases globally, the Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization has declared last night a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The rapid spread of the respiratory virus is covering now all China. Its National Health Commission (NHC) said that the death toll from the coronavirus outbreak in the country rose to 213. The total number of confirmed cases in China reached 9,692 as of today.
Speaking to the media today at the United Nations in Geneva, WHO’s spokesperson Christian Lindmeier, said that “this is a scenario which is expected, because travellers have been going, are still going, and that’s completely okay, or cases have been dormant because people have been infected, they were asymptomatic or with mild symptoms. So, we will have to see, we are expecting to see more cases and more countries to come”.
WHO’s Emergency Committee believes that it is still possible to interrupt virus spread, provided that countries put in place strong measures to detect disease early, silage and treat cases, trace contact.
WHO’s Christian Lindmeier said that “we have increased cases, but on the other hand it is also very typical scenario that the closer you look and the more you understand the virus, the more we are now also looking for asymptomatic possible transmission or for people with mild syndromes and infections through mild symptoms”. Lindmeier added that “the closer you are looking into this, the more deaths you may categorize then as related to this Coronavirus. So this is unfortunately, but a typical scenario to expect to be seen for a few more days certainly”.
At this stage, WHO said that there are still many unknowns about the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) such as how this virus is developed in the different stages a patient goes through, at what stage a person falls sick. Also unclear, if the 171 patients who were cured and discharged from the virus were still at risk of being infected again. It is “a big call to vamp up science and research”.
WHO’s greatest concern is the potential for the virus to spread to countries with weaker health systems, and which are ill-prepared to deal with it.
WHO’s spokesperson said that “we are more worried about countries with weaker health systems without putting this on to a continent alone”. Lindmeier emphasized that “this is exactly the scenario which is worrisome that in such a country the virus spreads uncontrolled for a while and unmonitored for a while and then of course the whole outbreak spreads larger. So again, this was one of the key reasons for declaring the Public Health Emergency of International Concern”.
WHO’s country offices are present in over 150 countries. Being in permanent contact with the respective ministries of health they can assist to register cases and also to seek proactively assistance from WHO should gaps are identified in the response system.
“If a health system is weak, there are all types of possibilities to help them”, WHO’s Lindmeier explained. “On the one hand, it could be technical assistance in terms of training of health care staff. That is one important part. It could be as simple and basic as logistical supplies in sending masks or other equipment which might be necessary. Of course, it would include the famous RDT, rapid diagnostic test, or other medical equipment”.
Nearly 60 million people have been under partial or full lockdown in Chinese cities for a week. Several countries are sending planes to evacuate foreign citizens under lockdown in the Chinese city Wuhan, capital of the central Hubei province, where the outbreak first appeared. Some airlines have stopped flying to mainland China.
WHO has not recommended curbs on travel or trade with Beijing, because keeping borders open prevent illegal border crossings.
Lindmeier explained that “travel and trade restrictions are not recommended by the WHO, it might be a logical step to first look into this and say ‘Look, we see a danger from outside, so let’s lock ourselves up’. But as we know from other scenarios, be it Ebola or other cases, whenever people want to travel, they will. And if the official paths are not open, they will find unofficial paths. But the only way to control, to check, to identify travel history, to try to monitor who is coming across to your border and to see whether they have any signs of infections is through official border crossing points”.
This is the fifth time that the World Health Organisation has declared a PHEIC in a decade.
- Exterior, Palais des Nations
- Wide shot, press briefing room
- Close up, hands typing
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Christian Lindmeier, Spokesperson of the World Health Organisation (WHO): “This is a scenario which is expected, because travellers have been going, are still going, and that’s completely okay, or cases have been dormant because people have been infected, they were asymptomatic or with mild symptoms. So, we will have to see, we are expecting to see more cases and more countries to come”.
- Medium shot, camera people
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Christian Lindmeier, Spokesperson of the World Health Organisation (WHO): “We have increased cases, but on the other hand it is also very typical scenario that the closer you look and the more you understand the virus, the more we are now also looking for asymptomatic possible transmission or for people with mild syndromes and infections through mild symptoms. So, the closer you are looking into this, the more deaths you may categorize then as related to this Coronavirus. So this is unfortunately, but a typical scenario to expect to be seen for a few more days certainly”.
- Medium shot, podium
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Christian Lindmeier, Spokesperson of the World Health Organisation (WHO): “We are more worried about countries with weaker health systems without putting this on to a continent alone. And again, this is exactly the scenario which is worrisome that in such a country the virus spreads uncontrolled for a while and unmonitored for a while and then of course the whole outbreak spreads larger. So again, this was one of the key reasons for declaring the Public Health Emergency of International Concern”.
- Close up, journalist
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Christian Lindmeier, Spokesperson of the World Health Organisation (WHO): “If a health system is weak, there are all types of possibilities to help them. On the one hand, it could be technical assistance in terms of training of health care staff. That is one important part. It could be as simple and basic as logistical supplies in sending masks or other equipment which might be necessary. Of course, it would include the famous RDT, rapid diagnostic test, or other medical equipment”.
- Medium shot, journalist
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Christian Lindmeier, Spokesperson of the World Health Organisation (WHO): “Travel and trade restrictions are not recommended by the WHO, it might be a logical step to first look into this and say ‘Look we see a danger from outside so let’s lock ourselves up’. But as we know from other scenarios, be it Ebola or other cases, whenever people want to travel, they will. And if the official paths are not open, they will find inofficial paths. But the only way to control, to check, to identify travel history, to try to monitor who is coming across to your border and to see whether they have any signs of infections is through official border crossing points”.
- Medium shot, journalists
- Medium shot, podium
- Medium shot, journalists
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | UNHCR , UNMAS , WHO
Just how many people are still trapped in the Sudanese city of El Fasher?
That’s the burning question for relatives of the many thousands of people believed to still be there, since paramilitary fighters overran the regional capital of North Darfur last month, after a 500-day siege.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
At the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva, UN Human Rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan made the following remarks on the ongoing violence in the occupied WestBank.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
At a Special Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva today, the UN Human Rights Chief, Volker Türk made the following remarks on the situation in El-Fasher, Sudan.
2
1
2
Statements , Conferences , Edited News | HRC
UN Human Rights Council holds special session on Sudan as mass atrocities reported in El Fasher
The UN Human Rights Council convened an emergency session on Friday on the situation in and around El Fasher, Sudan, following reports of mass killings in the North Darfur capital. States passed a resolution that will mandate an investigation into likely mass atrocities during the capture of El Fasher by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on 26 October.
1
1
2
Edited News | UN WOMEN
Sudan: Women’s bodies ‘a crime scene’ as tens of thousands flee El Fasher atrocities – UN Women
In war-torn Sudan, rape is being systematically used as a weapon and simply being a woman is “a strong predictor” of hunger, violence and death, the UN’s gender equality agency warned on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
The UN human rights office (OHCHR) on Friday called for an end to continuing expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, where “unchecked” settler violence has surged since the war in Gaza began more than two years ago.
1
1
1
Edited News | WFP
The crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to worsen amid ongoing fighting that has driven tens of thousands of people from their homes and created acute hunger, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday.
1
1
1
Edited News | WFP
Gaza: One million receive food parcels as humanitarians race to ‘push back hunger’
Food is slowly returning to the shelves in Gaza amid “apocalyptic scenes” but supplies are still desperately inadequate, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday, as they issued fresh calls for wider access and continued financial support.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango today told the bi-weekly UN press briefing in Geneva of more details that are emerging on the atrocities committed in El Fasher, in Sudan during and after its takeover by the Rapid Support Forces.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango made the following comment on Friday at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani made the following comment on Friday at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , WHO
Sudan: UN Raises Alarm Over Mass Atrocities in El Fasher as Survivors Report Executions, Killings and Rapes
More details continue to emerge about atrocities committed during and after the fall of El Fasher to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan on 23 October. Since the powerful paramilitary group made a major incursion into the city last week, the UN Human Rights Office has received “horrendous accounts of summary executions, mass killings, rapes, attacks against humanitarian workers, looting, abductions and forced displacement,” said Seif Magango, spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).