World Health Organization press briefing
WHO's Tedros says:
- Decision to reconvene emergency panel is based mainly on the evidence of increasing numbers of cases, on evidence for human to human transmission that has occurred outside of China
- evidence of human to human transmission outside of China of course is deeply concerning although the numbers outside China hold the potential for a much larger outbreak
- asked about composition of international mission, agreed with China and says it will be composed of World Health Organization staff
- He would like to reform current system for declaring international emergencies to have a three-phase system and a traffic light approach
- the last few days the progress of the virus especially in some countries, especially human to human transmission, worries us. He names Germany, Vietnam and Japan
WHO's Mike Ryan and other officials add:
- Very impressed with the level of Chinese engagement at all levels and fight against coronavirus
- they are taking extraordinary measures in the face of what is an extraordinary challenge
- 15 countries have imported cases of coronavirus, but the whole world needs to be on alert and take action
- We believe change of virus transmission can still be interrupted
- China is doing the right thing and responding in a massive way
- International team of experts to go to China is still being pulled together
- China has a laser focus on stopping outbreak
- the government is willing to take a significant economic hit to put the health of people first.
