UNOG-RUSH-NEWS Briefing 24MAR2020 Zoom recording cut

The United Nations Office at Geneva

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UNOG Bi-weekly press briefing 24 March 2020

1:20:22

MP4

188.2 MB

24-03-2020

Press Conferences | WHO , UNOG , WFP , UNCTAD

UNOG-RUSH-NEWS Briefing 24MAR2020 Zoom recording cut

ENG

COVID-19: UN Secretary-General’s appeal for a global ceasefire

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) referred to the previous day’s appeal by the Secretary-General, who called on all warring parties to put a stop to fighting so that all resources could be dedicated to combating the COVID-19 pandemic. Answering a question, Ms. Vellucci said that it was indeed an exceptional appeal as the situation was quite exceptional. The Secretary-General was talking to global leaders, including G20 leaders, on having a concerted, coordinated, well-financed response to the global threat.

COVID-19 Update

Margaret Harris, for the World Health Organization (WHO), informed that the outbreak was rapidly accelerating, and there were considerably more registered cases than 335,000, and far more than 14,500 deaths. The WHO dashboard had been last updated the previous evening, but there had been a significant growth overnight, and new figures would be shown soon. As a comparison, it had taken two years for the worst Ebola outbreak to reach 11,000 deaths, reminded Ms. Harris. She added that 85 percent of the cases reported in the last 24 hours had come from Europe and the United States, which were now the epicenters of the pandemics. Lots of countries were taking strict measures to fight the virus, whose curve was supposed to slow down, and to give health services a chance to somehow catch up. There were some early positive signs in several European countries, which nonetheless had to be viewed with caution. Testing, isolating, tracing, and quarantining were all crucial, much needed steps that authorities around the world ought to be undertaking.

Dr. Harris informed that the previous day the WHO and the International Football Association (FIFA) had announced a joint campaign “Five Steps to Kick Out Coronavirus.” The campaign focused on: hand washing; coughing etiquette; not touching one’s face; physical distance; and staying home if one feels unwell.

There was much concern about the spread of the virus in vulnerable, less developed countries, for example a number of countries on the African continent, stressed Dr. Harris.

Responding to a series of questions, Dr. Harris said that many countries had reached out to the WHO asking for prefabricated tests. So far, the WHO had provided some 1.5 million tests, and had been working with the least prepared countries ever since January, helping them get ready for the pandemics.

Dr. Harris further said that there was a glimmer of hope in Italy, as there were fewer cases than in the previous several days, but it was still far too early to claim that the tide had turned. The situation needed to be carefully observed in the coming days. The United States certainly had a very significant outbreak, and a large number of new cases reported overnight globally came from the US, confirmed Dr. Harris. On a positive side, testing there had been

ramped up, and more efforts were being made to contain the spread of the virus. Dr. Harris stressed that there was no “one-size-fits-all” approach which would be applicable to all countries around the world. Not each measure worked in each society; in China, for example, a complete lockdown and stopping all activities had brought positive results.

Health workers were the most fundamental people necessary to defeat the pandemics, emphasized Dr. Harris. There had been an 18-million health worker shortfall before the COVID-19 outbreak. Health workers needed to be well protected, trained properly, provided with adequate equipment and working conditions. Dr. Harris emphasized the importance of having properly trained professionals who knew how to do triage, testing, reporting test results, and isolation of patients. All those elements were needed to break the chain of transmission. It was not only important to have protective equipment in place, but also to have sufficient health workers to back up and replace those on the front lines of the fight against the virus.

Dr. Harris said that the incubation period of the virus was between three and twelve days. That was why a 14-day quarantine was considered to be a sufficient time for possible symptoms to appear. The virus tended to inhabit the nasal cavities, the nose and the mouth for quite a while, without showing obvious symptoms. That was why testing and isolation were of crucial importance, so that infected persons who were not even aware of it would not infect several other individuals.

Dr. Harris stated that an increase in testing would certainly lead to an increase in registered cases, but there was also an objective growth of cases in both Europe and the United States. Testing was definitely the best way to identify all cases, isolate them, trace their contacts, and eventually stop the virus.

World Food Programme’s response to COVID-19

Elisabeth Byrs, for the World Food Programme (WFP), stressed that as the COVID-19 pandemic evolved, the WFP was looking to pre-position buffer stocks of food or cash to provide at least three months of food assistance to vulnerable people in priority countries.

WFP appealed to government partners to confirm an estimated USD 1.9 billion of contributions to the WFP food assistance programmes so that forward procurement and pre-positioning of stocks could be accelerated in fragile places. In that regard, the WFP was asking government partners to allow maximum flexibility in the way that resources were used so that food assistance programmes could respond dynamically to the rapidly changing outlook.

Ms. Byrs explained that in China, the WFP had provided support to the Chinese Government’s efforts to curb the spread of the virus by delivering lifesaving equipment to hospitals in Hubei province. The WFP had deployed a team of supply chain experts to the WHO Headquarters in Geneva to provide planning and logistics support to emergency teams, while in Iran, the WFP was providing a two-month supply of personal protection equipment - masks, gloves and coverall gowns - for more than 2,000 staff and volunteers from the Iranian Red Crescent Society. In Bangladesh, for example, the WFP had put in place a double-ration system for refugees in Cox’s Bazaar, whereby monthly rations were given every two months instead, reducing excess movement of people and supporting social distancing efforts.

To access the WFP’s page on the COVID-19 pandemic, click here.

Responding to a question, Ms. Byrs said that the WFP used its logistics network and expertise to support other UN agencies dealing with the pandemic, including the World Health Organization. She stressed the importance of never breaking the supply chain. Ms. Byrs said that electronic vouchers and cards allowed recipients to use the resources at a moment of their choice.

Observatory on border crossing status due to COVID-19

Jean Rodriguez, for the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), said that

international movement and connectivity were facing unprecedented challenges as an increasing number of countries around the world were closing their borders and imposing travel restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The patchwork of uncoordinated measures taken complicated compliance by transport operators, causing huge delays at borders in many countries and making it increasingly difficult to keep road transport supply chains open.

To facilitate the work of transport operators and preserve connectivity by keeping supply chains working as smoothly as possible, UNECE was launching an “Observatory on Border Crossings Status due to COVID-19”, which gathered all updated information regarding border crossing limitations worldwide. The online observatory would provide available information on the situation, updated directly by countries - national customs’ focal point and national members of the International Road Transport Union, the transport sector, and the European Commission.

UNECE Executive Secretary Olga Algayerova had stated: “UNECE hosts all the United Nations international conventions governing inland transport, which are key to ensure and maintain efficient border crossing and transit procedures. I urge all countries to facilitate the flow of goods, in particular essential products, to the maximum extent possible during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to make full use of existing international cooperation mechanisms to adopt, wherever possible, coordinated measures.”

More information on the Observatory on Border Crossing Status due to COVID-19.

In response to a question, Mr. Rodriguez said that the UNECE was calling on all countries to limit, to the amount possible and with necessary precautions in place, disruption of supply chains. The economic impact of the pandemics was already severe on many industries.

UNCTAD’s announcements

Catherine Huissoud, for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), informed about a publication today of web news on enterprise registration in Benin, which was part of UNCTAD’s Trade Facilitation Programme. Benin this month had taken its business registration processes 100 percent digital, setting up an efficient, new online single window that houses all regulatory processes needed to open a business in record time. This critical move, ahead of the spike in global infections from COVID-19, meant that businesspeople in Benin or abroad could now start a business in two hours and from the comfort and safety of their office or home. With this new single window, Benin got a top score on ger.co, an index of countries’ business registrations systems.

Ms. Huissoud also informed about a transport newsletter on implementation of the new rules concerning CO2 emissions entitled “Decarbonizing Shipping: What Role for Flag States?”. The International Maritime Organization’s Member States had agreed in 2018 to reduce the total annual greenhouse gases emissions by at least 50 percent by 2050 compared to 2008. The International Chamber of Shipping and other maritime industry associations proposed the establishment of a research and development fund to help cut emissions. UNCTAD supported the Getting to Zero Coalition and promoted efforts to achieve sustainability, helping developing countries adapt and build resilience in the light of the climate emergency (find here more information).

* * *

The webcast for this briefing is available here: http://bit.ly/unog240320

Teleprompter

[Other language spoken]

See to Montong have on the conversation with reduced to control leak in the orator.

I would like to check that our speaker from who is on the line because I can't see the name on the list of participants.

Can we have the confirmation that we have on the line Mrs Doctor, Margaret and Harris from WHO?

Hello Alexander, this is Chris from WHO I'm just trying to get a hold of Margaret to see when she will join so if you.

Just stand by, I'll let you know.

Thank you very much.

We'll wait for her to start the briefing.

She's our first speaker on the list.

OK, I'm just trying to.

[Other language spoken]

So we changed a little bit the order.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much.

Real.

OK, Maybe when while we are waiting for Chris confirmation that the speaker from WHO is online Doctor Margaret and Harris.

I would like to start by thanking everybody who has allowed us to put on this new version, new format of the briefing.

I know that many of the journalists are quite conversant with the Zoom system because you've been using it for WHO press conferences in the in the last week.

This is the first time we do it with different speakers from different locations, so bear with us in terms of possible technical hitches.

The great advantage of this system is first of all, we, we are all home.

And maybe this is really the most sound thing to do in, in terms of public health.

But also it allows several speakers to to to take the floor be online at the same time and allow journalists to ask for the floor and ask their question.

In order to avoid too many people speaking at the same time.

We have, as you know, a mute and a mute system.

So I would invite all the journalists who want to ask questions to use the little hand on the right hand side of the screen.

When you click on participants, you have the possibility to ask for the floor.

I will see it Real will help me with the coordination of the questions.

The only thing that you have to know is that the request for the hand, for the, for the, for the speed, for the mic is not chronological.

[Other language spoken]

It just appears on the screen when you ask for it.

So I may not be giving you the floor in the order you have asked it and I apologise for that, but this is the mutation of the system.

So, Chris, do we have Doctor Iris on the phone on the line?

Unfortunately, we do not yet.

I'm still trying to get a hold of her and she's not answering.

So we'll could we, So in this case, maybe we will start if Elizabeth Bierce is on the line.

I'm checking this.

I think she is.

Yes, she is.

[Other language spoken]

And we'll start with the briefing from WFP, which is also on COVID-19.

Elizabeth Beers, spokesperson of the World Food Programme, who would like to brief us on the World Food Programmes response to COVID-19 around the world.

Elizabeth, the floor is yours.

OK, Can you hear me very well?

[Other language spoken]

OK, as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, WFP is looking to preposition buffer stocks of food or cash to provide at least three months of food assistance to vulnerable people in priority countries.

WFP appeals to government partners to confirm an estimated 1.9 billion of contributions to WFP food assistance programme so that for what procurement and prepositioning of stocks can be accelerated in fragile places.

WFP is asking government partners to allow maximum flexibility in the way that resources are used so that food assistance programmes can respond dynamically to the rapidly changing outlook.

Additional funding may be required to increase global logistical support from the humanitarian community if it becomes clear that the pandemic is having a major impact on vulnerable countries.

I will give you an overview of what WFP is doing right now in a snapshot.

In China, WFP has provided support to the Chinese government by delivering life saving equipment to hospitals in Hubei province.

In Geneva, WFP has deployed a team of supply chain experts to The Who headquarters in Geneva to provide planning and logistic support to emergency teams and through the WFP LED Humanitarian Response Depot has delivered vital health and protective equipment to 67 countries across the world.

On behalf of the WHOWFP is also designing a prototype field treatment centre with WHO.

In Iran, WFP is providing A2 month supply of personal protection equipment, masks, gloves and or cover all gowns for more than 2000 staff and volunteers from the Iranian Represent Society.

This is thanks to a donation of Japanese government.

In Bangladesh, WFP put in place a double ration system for refugees in Cox Bazar.

In Afghanistan, WFP has been limiting the number of people present at distribution site and washing station and social distancing and disseminate public awareness info and materials on COVID-19.

In Zimbabwe, WFP is increasing the number of distribution site to limit overcrowding and is working to preposition food.

Finally, WFP is expanding the use of remote food security monitoring tools like its phone based vulnerability monitoring system, looking at supply chain disruption, market functionality, access to markets and health care over.

Thank you very much, Elizabeth, for this briefing on the very situation in the countries and the work of WFP.

Chris, do we have Doctor Aries on the phone on the line?

Oh, sorry, I'm still unable to reach her.

[Other language spoken]

So let's continue with our briefing.

Also on the COVID-19.

We should have on the line Jean Rodriguez, who is the spokesperson of UNECE, who is going to brief us on the Observatory on border crossing status due to COVID-19.

Jean, can you hear me and can you take the floor?

[Other language spoken]

Good morning, everybody.

International movements and connectivity are facing unprecedented challenges as an increasing number of countries around the world close their borders and impose travel restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The patchwork of uncoordinated measures taken complicates compliance by transport operators.

This is causing huge delays at borders in many countries and making it increasingly difficult to keep Rd transport supply chains open.

If this situation lasts, it could impact the delivery of essential goods such as food and Mexico, and medical items, especially for the countries that are the most dependent on imports to cover basic needs.

More globally, excessive restrictions to cross-border and transit freight transport are aggravating the economic and social impacts of the shock to the global economy created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

To facilitate the work of transport operators and preserve connectivity by keeping supply chains working as smoothly as possible, UNECE is launching an Observatory on Border Crossing Status due to COVID-19, which gathers all updated information regarding border crossing limitations worldwide.

This online observatory would provide available information on the situation updated directly by countries, whether whether they are national customs focal points or national members of the International Rd Transport Union, the transport sector and the European Commission.

In addition, UNEC Executive Secretary Olga Algierva stated UNEC hosts all the United Nations international conventions governing inland transport, which are key to ensure and maintain efficient border crossing and transit procedures.

I urge all countries to facilitate the flow of goods, in particular essential products, to the maximum extent possible during the COVID-19 pandemic and to make full use of existing international cooperation mechanisms to adopt, wherever possible, coordinated measures.

I also encourage them to actively use the UNE TIER and ECMR systems and other tools that allow the exchange of electronic information about the flow of goods across borders without physical contact.

Specific efforts should be made to maintain transit, freight transport for landlocked countries, which are already at a disadvantage and suffer higher costs due to their geographical position, she concluded.

I will just add that the Observatory was launched online yesterday and as mentioned, will be updated on a daily basis or multiple times during the day as information becomes available to the different partners.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much.

[Other language spoken]

Can, am I reconnected?

[Other language spoken]

So thank you very much.

So we have Doctor Harris on the line now, but before giving the floor to her, I would like to give the chance to the three person we've asked for the floor until now to ask their question.

Can we give the floor to Catherine Fiancong, please?

Catherine, you have the floor.

And please let us know to whom you're addressing your question.

[Other language spoken]

We can hear you well.

[Other language spoken]

My first question goes to WFP Elizabeth Beers.

So my the first question is about the collaboration between WFP and WHO.

You spoke about collaboration in Iran, but is it, do you have a closer collaboration between the two UN entities in a more global way?

And my second question always for Elizabeth is, does WF fear not receiving the funding necessary?

Because I suppose that needs will increase, particularly with the closing of schools.

You told us last time that there's a big reorganisation that has to be made, so could you elaborate on that too?

And after I have a question for Jean regarding the complications in transportation.

OK, so let's have Elizabeth answering first.

Yes, first question on The Who, of course, you know WHB brings its logistical support to all UN agency and in particular we work very closely with WHO.

As I said, we we deploy the team in Geneva of experts to facilitate the planning and the logistics support.

Also, WFP runs and manage the UN humanitarian depot and in particular in Brindisi in Dubai.

And we work closely to respond to any demand of support from any country.

So far, we are working and delivering health and protective equipment to 67 countries across the world and we are designing this protective field treatment centre with WHO.

This is for a WHO.

We are the logistical agency and we use our expertise and tool to support all agencies and countries during this crisis.

With regards to the the other question about funding, of course we need 1.9 billion.

This is a huge amount of money.

We just want to be sure that government and donors listen to our appeal.

We urge them to send the money and honour their engagement and promises so we can have this money and we can secure three months food assistance and stocks in order to never break the supply chain.

This is our major concern, never break the supply chain.

If we get the funding, we will keep on feeding people around the world where it's badly needed.

Regarding the school meal, so far the figures have evolved.

Now the nationwide closure are in force in 124 countries.

It means that 330 million children are now missing out of school meals on which they depend.

The closure have been reported in also 40 countries where WFP implements a feeding programme.

Sorry, we, we are now we have put in place alternative procedure of distribution to allow the children to get ration and take them all over.

Thank you very much.

And before I give the floor to Jean to answer the other question, I just would like to also remind you that Yens has sent out a media advisory about the launch of the COVID-19 global humanitarian response Plan, which will happen tomorrow, Wednesday, 25th of March, virtually, and which will see presentation briefings by the UN Secretary General and the Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, Loco and WHO Director General Tedros, together with UNICEF Executive Director, Harriet the Four.

If you have not received this media advisory, please let us know.

[Other language spoken]

So I come back now to the question Catherine had another question for John, if I understand well, Catherine, yes, thank you.

[Other language spoken]

My question to John is regarding the complications about transportation.

You said that it will certainly if it continues like that impact the delivery of goods.

So I would like you to elaborate a bits on the countries that you think that will be or would be the most affected in.

In the case of I mean that these complications will be staying or even worsening because many countries are closing their borders.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you for the.

Thank you for the question.

We don't have yet specific data on that.

The there are two points, 2, two points I can answer to that question.

The first thing is that we've seen, we've received information last week of queues at borders reaching up to 60 kilometres for some countries, in particular in Poland, and several 20 hours in other countries, instead of a couple of a couple of minutes or a couple of hours if it's on a really busy day.

So this is a massive amount of time compared to usual practises.

So clearly this is having already today and since the the start of these measures in the different countries, this is already impacting supply chains.

What we don't know, what we don't have yet data to answer more specifically your question, it's quite clear that the as we stressed in the in this release, the more dependent the country is on imports for basic goods such as foods or medical supplies, the more these delays are impacting the provision of the the population or even of hospitals and, and and clinics in that particular country.

We will come back later on this week with further information specifically on one of our international conventions on the transport of the dangerous goods, which is called the ADR.

Because ADR is used for the, the transport of some medical supplies and notably oxygen, which as you know is now very crucial for the provision of a aid assistance, respiratory assistance to the the people which are the, the most affected by COVID in reanimation departments in hospitals.

So oxygen, it's transported by trucks most of the time.

And the provisions of that particular transports are governed by this international agreement, ADR.

But we are compiling the information and bringing together.

So I will come back to, to all of you later on this week before the briefing or on Friday For more information on that particular angle.

But the that's why we're making this call today and our executive secretary is calling on, on countries.

We understand everybody and this is a priority.

Countries need to adopt measures to protect the population against the, the pandemic.

Everybody understands that that is the one priority for the, for the current period.

That being said, within the measures that are taken, we call on all countries to limit the disruption of supply chains to the minimum needed and to still allow to the maximum extent possible.

Then complying with safety and medical provisions, the flow of goods, because first it can have an impact on on crucial supplies like food and medical items.

In addition, more globally for the economy, the disruption and the delays are aggravating the economic impact of this pandemic, which is already devastating.

And the, we're an economic Commission and we obviously also care for the economic impact of the, of this crisis.

And the, the, the impact is very severe on many industries, but in unnecessarily strict limitations to the flow of goods will only aggravate this impact unnecessarily.

This is what we're saying.

So we're not asking anybody to not pay due attention to the medical emergency?

Certainly not, but within the necessary precautions, we call for the maximum facilitation of the transport of goods.

Thank you very much.

I have 3 speakers on my list.

Please keep your question and answers quite brief.

My next question would be from Mark Egglehart, but I don't see the hand anymore.

Mark, are you still willing to take the floor and ask the question?

[Other language spoken]

So the next on the list is Gabriella.

[Other language spoken]

Gabriella, you have the floor.

[Other language spoken]

It's so nice to see you all.

[Other language spoken]

One is for Elizabeth, if she's doing something in Venezuela, what what are or what are your operations there?

And then, and then I have a question on the message of Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

If it's OK, I can ask now or later.

OK, so let's because you you know that Mrs Doctor Harris is waiting on the on the line too.

And I think she will have hundreds of questions.

So maybe I let me ask the question to Elizabeth to answer, then we have another question, then I'll go to Mrs Harris.

And why we go to Mrs Harris, we do the the transfer.

I'll answer your question, Elizabeth very quickly.

WFP Regional Bureau for Latin America is working on the key problems in Venezuela, Colombia, Panama and also it and I will give you I will come back to you with more details in particular on use of helicopters and also on the the migrants which are were assisted and on school meals.

I'll come back to you and I will send to all the the journalist my answer over.

Thank you very much.

That's very useful.

OK, next on the line and and then I'll go to Doctor Harris is Emma Farge Reuters if if she can be unmuted.

[Other language spoken]

Question for Elizabeth, please.

On the buffers of food and cash that you mentioned.

I was just wondering when this is going to happen.

Where has this ever been done before?

And why particularly are you building up those buffers of food and cash?

Is that because you're afraid of supply chains breaking down, Elizabeth It has already, it has already done before when we, we need to secure the food stocks in some countries because of the conflict, because of any natural disaster or and what we, we prefer to use vouchers as it is already done in Syria, for instance, in refugee camps.

Because if you use voucher or electronic cards, you can each person can buy when there is a market functioning, any person can buy the food as, as he like.

And you avoid of course overcrowding in on distribution side.

So WFP is developing also all our remote and electronic tools in order to get data and in order also to communicate with the beneficiaries.

This is now the new the new policy and we'll develop it.

And it's already we have already taken measure in old country where those food distribution are badly needed.

And for instance, regarding school meals programme, we have put in place distribution of food duration for the families who missed this food safety net at school.

Thank you very much, Elizabeth.

Now if we can just hear the second question from Gabriella.

Dr Harris, I'll give you the flu immediately after.

Gabriella, can you ask me the question why Miss Cyrus is put on the line?

[Other language spoken]

The question was on the SG speech.

Yes, my question is on the, on the Secretary General.

The message is, is, is the what are the reactions maybe in Libya and Syria in in Yemen, I don't know.

And it's, it was quite a special message.

I never saw a message like that from any Secretary General.

What are your your comments on that?

I mean, as AUN person, OK, first of all, the secretary general's message was definitely or appeal, I would say was definitely a an exceptional one because we are in an exceptional situation.

I think he made it very clear that the sorry for this, I forgot to turn off my landline.

The issue of the that he mentioned was a special issue because we need now to concentrate all our strength, all our attention, all our energy on fighting the pandemic.

So it is necessary even more than all than any other time, if, if it's possible to say so, to really put a stop, uh, to fighting in every country which is under the, uh, a conflict situation in order to fight this, uh, this, uh, virus.

Um, I also would like to say that he has, in terms of reactions, he has been sending a letter to the leaders of the G20 asking for more coordination in order to, to suppress or to stop this disease.

But he is also going to talk with the leaders of the world in these days and and trying to push this appeal farther.

So I would now like to go to Miss Doctor Harris, thanking her for her patience.

Then we will take additional questions.

And obviously Elizabeth Jean myself, we will still be here to answer your question.

And Please note that Babar is also on call to answer your question if needed.

And we also should have on the line listening Rolando and the UNICEF spokesperson.

So if there are questions, maybe you can also enlarge the number of people that can answer.

So, Doctor Harris, you would have for us an update on COVID-19 that we are all waiting eagerly for.

You have the floor.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much.

I'll be quick because I think that this this a lot of questions will take up the time.

Dashboard is currently showing 334,981 cases, but in fact the the outbreak is accelerating very rapidly and the case numbers we received overnight, we'll put that up considerably.

We're also recording 40 / 14.514 thousand 510 deaths.

Again, sadly that number will increase considerably.

Those, those that death number, just to put in proportion, it took two years and the worst Ebola outbreak we ever had, the West African outbreak, to reach 11,000 deaths.

So we really are seeing an enormous outbreak here.

The main drivers of the outbreak are remain Europe, but also the US.

So 85% of cases that have been reported last 24 hours have come from the European region and the US, 50% from the European region, 40% from the US.

A lot of countries are now taking very strong measures to to distance people, to really quarantine entire societies.

And these have been shown to be an important way of slowing down the spread of the virus and buying some time to give the time to the health services to deal with the very ill people they are now dealing with.

But to defeat the virus, to stop it, countries also need very aggressive, targeted tactics, testing every suspected case, isolating and caring for every person known to be ill, and also tracing and quarantining and finding every close contact.

So the testing's crucial to know who's got it, but it's also just as crucial to identify everybody who has been in contact with people who are infected.

I mean, we all here in the UN and in WHO now know the reality of that good news.

WHO and FIFA have announced a joint campaign passed a message to kick out coronavirus, promoting the five key steps that individuals can follow to protect their health in line with WHO guidance of frequent hand washing, coughing etiquette, not touching your face and staying home if you have any symptoms.

And this has been already had great penetration.

People are really responding to this.

We're also concerned about the movement to lower income countries, countries with weaker health systems and with populations that are malnourished and have **** HIV prevalence.

We are seeing a rise in cases in in the African region.

The the case numbers rise slow there, but we are seeing new countries reporting.

I think that's probably enough for now and I'll take questions.

[Other language spoken]

What happened?

[Other language spoken]

Yeah, it takes a little bit of time to unmute one person and and meet somebody else.

[Other language spoken]

So thank you very much.

We have quite a few questions for you.

I'll mention the people.

So in the in the order that appeared on my screen.

Bear with me if it's not perfect.

So we have a question from Isabel Sacobor from FA Stefan Busar from Leton Byram Altuka from Anaduro, NC and Catherine Fiancon, France Vancat.

So we start now with Isabel Sacobor, FA Isabel, you have the floor.

[Other language spoken]

Isabel, can you hear me?

[Other language spoken]

Yes, for WA show, I would like to to ask about what are countries telling WA show about the availability of test as you are, you are recommending day by day test, test, test but there are most of countries don't have any capacity for producing.

So is there enough tests to follow your advice And if you can't tell us what is the gap and also give us some number to have an idea of the needs where there, where there are their needs and what are the needs that are not met.

Doctor Harris.

Yes, certainly many countries are contacting us and we have a central, we have lab focal points for every region.

Countries can choose to develop their own tests.

The countries that have got more advanced systems with stronger manufacturing capacities are and and often countries prefer to validate their own tests.

So those countries are making their own tests.

Many countries have indeed come to WHO for assistance with acquiring the pre qualified tests and also for assessment of the tests that they're considering procuring.

For the pre qualified tests that we've assisted to get to other countries.

We've shipped 1.5 million tests.

The last information I had was about .5 million of those had been used.

[Other language spoken]

So you can see there's still capacity, however it's very, very patchy.

You're quite right.

Different countries have been developing outbreaks at different times and and if they've not been able to or been in a position to prepare in the way that we did ask everybody to prepare from the big beginning, they may find themselves in a catch up situation.

The positive thing is the countries we identified as the least prepared and with the least capacity to prepare, we worked with very early from January onwards.

So there are some countries that are in a good position because that level of scale up, that level of preparation has already been done.

As for unmet need, I don't have specific numbers.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much.

Doctor Harris.

I'll go to Stefan Bussard.

[Other language spoken]

Yes, yesterday Doctor Tredros congratulated President Trump on on doing a great job on fighting COVID-19.

But the same day, President Trump held a presser last night basically saying that he could maybe open, reopen the economy and forget about social distancing and things like that.

So what's the general reaction of WHO on this?

[Other language spoken]

Doctor Harris.

[Other language spoken]

So what Doctor Ted Ross was referring to is the important areas of public health that The Who, sorry, that the US is really scaling up like the all of government response, getting everybody together, really trying to work together, but also very, very, very much involving the community, involving the community in responding well to the outbreak.

I can't really comment on on President Trump's press conference.

That's really a domestic matter.

Thank you very much.

I'll go to the next question, Byram Altuk from Anadullo Ansi, the Turkish news Agency.

[Other language spoken]

Byram, you are on.

[Other language spoken]

Doctors in the United States on Sunday called for the less of sense of cement and test to be added to the list of sea cleaning tools for COVID-19.

Do you have already clear evidence that from South Korea, China, Italy and other countries that significant number of patients with proven COVID-19 infection have developed on a smear?

Thank you so much, Doctor Harris.

And thank you.

This is a a good question and it's a very interesting symptom that indeed a number of ear, nose and throat surgeons have noted among their patients.

So at the moment this is what we call observational evidence.

It's coming from very good and very reliable sources.

So our clinical team at the moment are collating the the evidence from around the world from around the different outbreaks as you mentioned in the different countries and and assessing what the significance.

And the relevance of this particular symptom is.

Thank you very much I would like to ask those journalists who have already asked their question to please put down their virtual hand because it's quite confusing for me to give the floor my next journalist to ask a question is Catherine fiancon I think Catherine you you asked a question for France vancat today or for another media just confirm please you have the floor.

My question is regarding the number the raise of number of cases that you spoke about and that it's raising so quickly do you explain that by the fact that there are more countries are undergoing testing.

Is it because you spoke for instance about United States more cases in the United states United States recently started to to test people and to isolate people is that an explanation of the quick race of cases that you see thank you doctor Harris?

[Other language spoken]

Increasing in testing certainly will increase in finding numbers of cases that's true but there are other drivers so there there is clearly a very large outbreak going on in a number of countries in Europe but also in the United states but indeed quite often countries that test very widely may show a lower case fatality rate for instance we saw this in Korea very large numbers of cases but their their fatality rate.

Was much lower their case fatality rate and that happens if you've captured every case in your community you may have a more accurate picture of the rate at which people people who are sick are dying so when you have a very **** case fatality rate it could be down to maybe simply that larger numbers of people are dying in your community or it may be that there are more cases that have not been identified so that would be one element of the rise and if that is one element of it that's a very positive thing?

Because as we were saying testing testing testing is the best way to find this virus it's the best way to find those around who are potentially exposed and it's the best way to stop this virus thank.

[Other language spoken]

The next person who would like to ask a question is Robin Millard from AFP just to recap for the benefit of the person who's operating the mics after Robin AFP we have Jamie Keaton Associated Press Gabriel Sotomayor proceso Emma fart for Reuters Moussa ASI and Lisa schlein for Voice of America so now it's Robin Millard from AFP Robin you should have the floor now hello can you hear me.

Yes we can go ahead a question for doctor Harris you spoke about the the numbers in the in the European region and in the US 50 the last 24 hours 50% from the European region and 40% from the United states do you see the United states going on to become.

The epicentre of this outbreak overtaking Europe if you like and if so how concerned are you about the fact that so many people in the United states lack health insurance and access to medical care doctor Harris.

Thank you for that question I should should correct my miss speaking I said 85% of new cases came from those 2 areas and of that 85% 50% were from the euro region 40% were from the US so my apologies for being a bit confusing with my statistics.

You are right that we are now seeing a very large acceleration in the in the numbers of cases from the United states so it does have that potential we cannot say that that is the case yet but it does have that potential.

Access to Healthcare is always the is is the cornerstone is the foundation of managing all illnesses and particularly with an infectious disease this is your best way to ensure that you can treat everybody isolate everybody quarantine everybody because your hospitals are the places at which most people who are ill so they're your places where you identify illness are the places where you've got your best chance of.

Reaching out to community and stopping transmission.

Thank you very much doctor Harris next question is from Jamie kitten Associated Press Jamie you're unmuted go ahead can you hear me yes we can go ahead ask your question hi doctor Harris it's Jamie here yeah.

I wanted to just also talk about the numbers you say that that you're there both the death count and the case count is expected.

To go up considerably based on numbers you got overnight can you be a little bit more specific about that and just go ahead and tell us now what those numbers are because it's from from what I can tell the last numbers we had yesterday and the latest sitrep were 40,000 new cases 40,007 88 and I'm just wondering if we're on track to pass that.

Doctor Harris.

Sorry you said 4000 888 you mean that was the rise in your cases Jamie I I I don't quite understand what happened me apologies.

[Other language spoken]

From yesterday from last night 20:23 March 2020.

[Other language spoken]

And the number.

There on it is 332930 confirmed cases the total.

Of which 40,007 88 are are new.

Cases yeah so we would expect and a considerable rise on that so I think keep watching the dashboard during the day of course the last time the dashboard was was updated was.

Yesterday evening around yesterday evening as well but yes overnight there were a considerable number of cases I don't have the actual numbers because I was scribbling down from our morning morning meeting so I apologise for that but do expect considerable numbers during the day can.

I just follow up right quickly please go ahead just can is is it to your knowledge the 40,000 from yesterday was the largest number yet in a single day is that correct new cases.

I haven't got a comparison in front of me but looking at the way in which it's accelerating and the curve I would expect each day we will be saying that until the really strong measures that countries have taken put in place begin to to to take hold you know we're seeing some very early positive signs but too positive to to.

Insist that they're they're going to continue but we're seeing some early positive signs in some of the countries in Europe that have really persuaded their communities to physically distance to really not move around.

Sorry can I just follow up one last thing just to make sure you have a lot of questions I understand but I just want to make sure what you you mentioned that these these these figures are going up considerably but I just want to make sure and you mentioned this earlier in a in a in a response to question what would make you attribute that considerable increase I mean is it is it greater testing or there are other factors.

Creator testing is certainly one and this is this is a positive because as we said before if you're testing you you you're in a position to also find all the people who are exposed and that's where you can break the transmission so that is a very positive but it can also simply be that.

People each individual is infecting 2 to 3 other people takes about 3 to 5 days so we're seeing what happened 3 or 4 days ago 5 days ago in many countries so if we're seeing a 40% of cases coming from the US we're certainly seeing that back a week ago there was a lot of transmission.

Thank you very much next question from Gabriella Sotomayor Mexican processor Gabriella.

You should be a muting yes you we can hear you now thank you very much for taking my question doctor Harris when is going to be the meeting with doctor tedros and leaders of the G 20 and how are we going to to follow this meeting I mean we the president here in Geneva and and then I have another question on what is the responsibility of governments.

To protect health workers I mean this is a war and they they don't have equipment they don't have PPE in a in a lot of countries So what is the the the responsibility of each government thank you thank you doctor Harris.

Pleasure so for your first 2 questions I'll have to get back to you for the G 20 for the day I do not have that in front of me and whether you can follow it or not again I don't have that information but I'll get back to you can you send that to me by e-mail so that I can make sure that I give you that information or if the whole group wants that.

Yes I think it would be of interest for everybody.

OK so I'll send it to you Alexander yeah.

Yes or or yes or one of your spokesperson can say would we be happy to distribute the information also no problem.

Problem thank you very much it would be very useful next question from Emma farge from Reuters good morning you touched on this doctor Harris but I was just wondering if you could elaborate a little bit more on the signs of hope Italy is seeing the rate of new debts coming down is this potentially a tipping point for Italy thank you.

Well you're quite right there's a glimmer of hope there.

We've seen in the last 2 days fewer new cases and deaths for the last 2 days in Italy but it's very very early days yeah so of course we all want to see Italy has suffered so much and we all want to see the the very the valiant efforts that the entire population is now taking we want to see a reward for that.

But it's too early to say so we'll still have to watch it for the next few days but yes it's it's it's true to say it's accurate to say that their new case numbers and then their new rates of deaths have begun to have reduced slightly over the last 2 days.

I cross my fingers for yes.

We all do.

Thank you very much OK next question from Moussa ASI doctor Harris sorry do you speak French because I think Moussa is going to ask his.

[Other language spoken]

Otherwise I can.

[Other language spoken]

OK very well Moussa alo razi to put posita kiss you on Francis.

[Other language spoken]

President of America of the proposal you need American in empire Messi.

Doctor Harris did you get the question.

Not completely.

OK so no so most is asking about the agreement that doctor tedros had announced that he had it was very close but we had an agreement with the US authorities to partially lift the embargo in order to let medicine drugs getting into the country and he want to know also what's what is what is the status of this.

Especially in relation with the latest declaration of the US authorities.

We I haven't got any further information on that and I'll have to get back to you my apologies.

OK no problem next speaker on my list is Lisa schlein Voice of America Lisa you should be unmuted go ahead we can hear you.

[Other language spoken]

And you.

So far so good thank you yeah I'd like to first follow up on Robin 's question to you I'm wondering whether you believe that the United that you expect that the United states might actually overtake Europe as the.

New epicentre of the disease and if indeed this is the case and even if it isn't it would it be premature for the United states to end social distancing and other containment measures which?

Seems to be a possibility or whether you think that the measures that are being implemented at the moment should continue for the foreseeable future and then I have a second question please OK doctor Harris maybe you want to answer the first one.

Yes certainly the US has a very large outbreak and as I said overnight 50% of the sorry what were my numbers my apologies.

40% of the 85% of new cases so a large chunk of the new cases reported overnight were from the US they have a very large outbreak and they have an outbreak that is increasing in intensity but we're also seeing some very very big positives testing is being ramped up there are more efforts to isolate care for every confirmed.

Case and trace and quarantine people and also a very very strong community mobilisation you know some extremely heart warming and fantastic stories coming out of the US about what people are doing for each other social distancing is physical distancing is very important.

The different measures different countries take have to be depend on what really works in each country there is no sort of one-size-fits-all approach it is very important that every individual understands the importance of right now being physically separate separate so we can all survive this and stay together.

Lisa you got the second question yeah yeah but first before I move on to that one I'd like to press you a little bit on more that.

But that.

OK fine I mean you seem to be a little bit vague shall I say about following through on on how tough country should be in terms of following through on the physical social distancing and other measures.

I mean you you you say that well cases are spiking but in the other other way other sense there are some good signs that perhaps some of the measures that are being taken should are are having a positive effect so I should these measures continue or should we go out and start partying again and try to have you know in order to.

Revive the economy of the United states your press doctor Harris.

Thanks well it's not time to start partying unfortunately it's it's time to stay healthy in order to be able to party much much later but.

If the different countries have done it differently are we I we can refer to Singapore they at no stage needed to do a complete lockdown because they took very clear physical distancing measures and they really enlisted every member of society now they had an advantage every member of society in Singapore understands what's needed because they went through SARS and they saw what can happen to a community if a dangerous infectious disease goes through there are also people who?

Really are very very community minded now I'm not saying that other countries aren't but that that's a very strong characteristic of singaporeans so they have shown that with a very very committed community you don't necessarily have to go down to lock down not each measure is the one that works in each society.

But again China found that that's what they did need to do in order to enable people to not move around in order to bring in the things they needed to do to bring in the armies of contact tracers it they found it was necessary to simply stop all activity so each country does do it on in their own way and we are all learning from each other.

Thank you Lisa you had a second question I do this maybe a little.

A bit more direct in terms of an answer yeah Margaret I'd like to know whether the United states has made offers of coronavirus aid you know equipment personnel variety of things money to the to the World Health Organisation and to you other UN bodies.

Yes that's an easy one the United states has been very very supportive and very helpful in many many areas in providing in indeed financially but also in providing expertise in providing in kind you know providing people the United states has been a great partner.

Can can can you just can you just be a little bit Lisa we have a long list of I understand?

This is the very last but just very.

Specific do you have any sort of a a money.

Value on the aid that has been given and what.

Specifically I don't have it with me but again if you send me the question I I'll I'll do my best to get you some sort of numbers from the resource mobilisation people.

Thank you very much so I have now on the list Peter Kenny Isabel Stefan bussah and before I go to the people who have asked for the floor now if you bear with me doctor Harris Gabriella Sotomayor is saying if you could answer one of her questions which was specifically on the responsibility of governments to equip.

Health personnel with the protection tools I'm translating from Spanish sorry.

Go ahead thanks Gabriella and in fact I I I was we finished the question before I had a chance to answer that and I definitely want to answer that health workers are the most crucial most fundamental people in between standing between.

Everybody all of us between life and death between health and non health if you don't have health workers you don't have a health system you don't have health now we've been saying this long long long before this outbreak we identified an 18,000,000 shortfall of health workers and we have been saying for years that if you do not build up your health workforce if you do not protect your health workforce and protect is more than simply providing equipment protecting them.

Is ensuring that they work reasonable hours that they have reasonable back out that they have security that they're protected from you know attacks we've seen terrible terrible attacks from health workers so on health workers I I should apologise so it's it's more than simply protective equipment it's ensuring that you pay them well you look after them well you train them well you provide them with the materials they need to do their work effectively and indeed?

Any government any any country any community all of us who have health workers it is our responsibility to ensure they have those levels of protection thanks?

Thank you very much so the next person on my list of speakers Peter Kenny who works for a number of South African newspapers Peter you are unmuted maybe you can spell the name of your media thank you.

I'm working for daily maverick.

Go ahead with your question.

OK doctor Harris this is a question concerning southern Africa you mentioned earlier that the WHR had since January been preparing lesser resource countries for dealing with the coronavirus and yesterday we had Zimbabwe reporting its first case could you tell us.

How countries in southern?

Africa are prepared to deal with this.

Virus considering that you've got Zimbabwe with a depleted health service and South Africa which has the most cases in Africa at the moment thank you doctor.

Harris thank you very much that's a very good question So what we started to do was first thing we did was identify.

A number of countries where we felt that they they needed to be a big scaling up of preparation and one of the things we looked at was can they test people do they know how to test people do they have the equipment to test people can they do surveillance do they again have the teams.

To follow the people who may have been exposed so we initially there was only one lab in all of the whole all of the continent of Africa that could do the test that was early January I mean sorry mid January because we didn't have the test until early January and so we've ramped up the numbers of places from memory I think it's about 40 countries can now do the testing but I will give you the accurate numbers later if you want them.

The other thing we did was look at training go to the countries like who have you got because it's all very well to have a test a test is just a cassette you need people to do it you need people to take the swab properly you need people to understand how to triage to ensure that that people who are potentially infected are coming to you and where are you going to put them you don't want to mix them with other people you don't want to expose your health workers who are doing the test so you have to have all those things in place it it sounds pretty boring but.

It's really really important and you also need to train the people in the laboratories to be able to do the test and you also have to set up a mechanism for reporting that test very quickly because those results tell you where the virus is but you need to use those results to find all the people who've been too exposed to the virus because that's where you're going to break the chain of transmission and of course you also need to work with your hospitals and the health staff work with them look at whether they've got the capacity to deal with people with a very.

Severe respiratory illness it takes at the very least oxygen therapy but for many people intensive care with a ventilator so all those things have had to be done and have been done and are continuing to be done.

Thank you very much doctor Harris I have on my list 3 people who have already oh you have a follow up Peter.

Yeah but I'm just asking how how well prepared do you think.

Zimbabwe and South Africa oh defensive.

So on Zimbabwe I don't have the specifics to give you a proper answer I'd have to refer you to my colleagues in the African regional office for detail on countries in that region South Africa we know has has for a long time had one of a very.

More advanced health system than most and perhaps one of the reasons we're seeing a lot of results in South Africa is doing what is needed doing the testing and and following the cases.

Thank you very much so I have last 3 speakers on my list who are people who have already asked questions so please I give you the floor again if you have a follow up but please be brief we still have one briefer afterwards OK so it's Isabel Stefan and Katherine Isabel could you please ask quickly a question hear me yes yes thank you doctor said yesterday that.

WHO has received alarming reports of contamination of health workers but he didn't give details on number of workers infected and countries affected by this problem because we didn't have the time of journalist to ask questions and if you can give these details and of countries we can presume that it's Italy a Spain or Iran but if can you give us please this information how many workers affected?

Health workers were and if this is a problem of handling of patients or of lack of protection material.

Doctor Harris thanks that's a very good question we have not got a lot of desegregated data at the moment and what I mean by that is things like was this person a health worker was this person where you know what was the nature of the contamination that work will is being done and we have.

The people looking at health worker safety investigating those things I do I have not seen specific numbers so that's why he's saying alarming reports at the moment it's anecdotal we're hearing that large numbers of for instance of doctors and nurses have fallen I'll so it is a very distressing thing.

When your health workers who are there to save lives and did not sign up to die being infected when the health worker gets infected in these circumstances it may be failure of the personal protective equipment but it's often because they are working such incredibly long hours and under such difficult conditions if you have a person in front of you going into respiratory arrest or needing intubation right away you may not have time to take all?

All the precautions that you would normally take to protect yourself because your your primary aim is to save a life so that's why I keep saying it's more than simply protective equipment it's about having large numbers of other health workers to back you up to support you to relieve you so that you can get some rest you can you can get have a chance to recover because we see over and over again in all sorts of outbreaks.

We saw this in ebola we saw this in many outbreaks it's when the healthcare workers get really really tired when they're under too much pressure when they've got too many people who are too I'll that they have to deal with at the same time that's when they are most likely to get infected.

Thank you very much Stefan busa.

Again from le Tong quick question please.

Yes very good question doctor Harris we've learned a few days ago that the Gaza Strip has its first COVID-19 cases how does WHO look on that knowing that the living conditions are very tough there and second question about that what do you expect from ESRIL to do.

To prevent.

[Other language spoken]

So we certainly are very concerned about new cases in any country that's got other serious problems problems that will limit will will will make it difficult for people to in populations where people have got so many other problems that they're they're likely to have poor a poor base level of health.

On what we expect the countries to do that's something that we expect all countries to test to follow up every case to to find everybody who's been exposed it's the same for every country and to engage their community to really understand the importance of physical distancing.

Thank you very much last follow up from Catherine fienkel hear me.

[Other language spoken]

It's it's a follow up about the rise that you expect of numbers you spoke about.

If I understood well something related to the incubation. You said that if you see the rise let's say this week it means that the previous week there has been a lot of contact so could you please give us more details about that the incubation. Is is considered between what 5 days and 15 days how does it work and?

What kind of rise could you give a percentage of the rise you are expecting is it 5% is it lower or or or is it less or more thank you thank you doctor doctor Harris?

Thank you the incubation. Is between 3 to 12 days that's why we look at we consider 14 days quarantine should give you the a period in which if you have got symptoms they will appear and and there's by.

Probation. It's when symptoms first appear or when you become infectious it's the virus tends to inhabit the the nasal cavity the mouth and throat for quite a while and it seems that people don't always have obvious symptoms early on So what I really meant was the numbers you see today reflect what happened.

3 to 5 days ago so that's why you see with countries with large outbreaks a sudden jump that the numbers are going up in that those sort of spikes you know it starts fairly slow because if you imagine one person infects 3 people so it starts like that then goes to 3 and as those 3 people infect another 3 people it starts to accelerate so that's why we talk about this this exponential rise and that's why we keep saying that you must test and you must.

Find every person who's been exposed then you must make sure those people are quarantined and you must do physical distancing so that you can stop that one person infecting 3 people ideally that one person doesn't infect anyone and so suddenly the numbers stop going up and they start to flatten out so that's the aim can't give you a 5% or a 6% or or any kind of really prediction as such what we want to see.

Is a slowing down a negative rise and this does very much depend on the measures that the different countries are taking?

Thank you very much doctor Harris we have really used an ***** of your time it's it's been very comprehensive thank you very much for being with the Geneva press corps for this briefing I would now like to if you're absolutely welcome to stay on the line we just have a last speaker who's Catherine we saw for anktad Catherine you have the floor for your announcements and then we'll wrap up bonjour Catherine I'm 30 put bono Vela juli presente.

The.

[Other language spoken]

The regular.

[Other language spoken]

You can add the Zealand domain.

The supreme bureaucracy.

[Other language spoken]

Suite permit in collection the important I found the public the development economic development.

Julie parcia Longley I would love to stress that we are now going we are today publishing a new maritime newsletter the title is decarbonizing shipping what role for flag states.

The International Maritime organisation member states agreed in 2018 to reduce the total annual GHGHG emissions by at least 50% by 2015 in comparison to 20 oh 8.

There is a proposal for the establishment of a research and Development Fund to help cut emissions following this decision and of course ontad supports the getting to zero coalition and promote efforts to achieve sustainability helping developing countries adapt and build resilience in light of the climate emergency but there's a there's a role for the flag states to to play in in this.

In this field they have an important role in enforcing the IMO rules because they exercise regulatory control over the world fleet on diverse issues ranging from entering safety of life at sea protection of the maritime environment and the provision of decent working and living conditions of seafarers.

So I will stop here because there's a the whole text and we stay of course at your disposal for to comment by our experts Jan Hoffman is one of the signatories of this newsletter together with 2 other experts and of course we are at your disposal thank you very much.

Thank you very much Catherine merci beaucoup gevoac Gabriella Sotomayor and Christian ask question Catherine Gabriella Chua la pajola C voila Chua la pajola yes no no it's not a question for Catherine is is on another subject OK let me see if there is any other requests for questions for Catherine I don't see it so go ahead Gabriella nice to see you Catherine.

And I have a question why there's no one from the human rights office because what about the human rights of older persons what about human rights of health workers I mean there's a lot of things here and.

Yeah yeah OK so yes absolutely as you know every morning we have the briefing we ask all the colleagues some of them have got active briefings other they just are available we have spoken with OHCHR this morning they will definitely they said they will definitely be here on they should definitely be here on Friday in the meantime I would remind you that they have sent out quite a few press releases in the last days on the.

Rights on various human rights aspects of the pandemic but in any case we will report your question to them and I expect them to be here on here literally on Friday thank you thank you.

OK so I don't see any other question thank you very much this was really a first try I'm quite happy to see that we have had about 60 participants all along I would like to thank all our speakers Elizabeth Jean and doctor Aries for being with us today I would really appreciate if the journalist not just AKA new but everybody who has been able to be with us today and the spokesperson could send us feedback on this new format of.

Briefing we will try to also be a little bit more visual next time with the backdrop and and a little bit more less sort of homemade but I think it worked quite well but your what your feedback would be really appreciate it one thing I wanted to say this is a feedback I have from our side is when you write your name in the participating chat in participation.

Window please spell your media not just your name many of you have done it but many of not and it facilitates very much the work of the person who switched the mics so thank you very much I don't have any other announcement to do but I would thank you again and wait for your feedback and give you Han de Vue for next Friday 1030 thank you very much goodbye.