WHO Media
| Friday 16 April, 2021 Please find enclosed the link of the WHO Director-General's statement as well as other materials from the COVID-19 media briefing on 16 April: - Globally, the number of new cases per week has nearly doubled over the past two months. This is approaching the highest rate of infection that we have seen so far during the pandemic.
- Until the beginning of this year, Papua New Guinea had reported less than 900 cases, and just 9 deaths. It has now reported more than 9300 cases, and 82 deaths. While these numbers are still smaller than other countries, the increase is sharp and WHO is very concerned about the potential for a much larger epidemic.
- Rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine started in late March, with 8 thousand doses donated by Australia, and a further 132 thousand doses from COVAX arrived this week. Through WHO’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, or GOARN, 13 experts have been deployed to support the government with case management, epidemiology, infection prevention and control, laboratory support and information management.
- Papua New Guinea is a perfect example of why vaccine equity is so important. It has held COVID-19 at bay for so long, but with rising infections, understandable fatigue with social restrictions, low levels of immunity among the population, and a fragile health system, it’s vital that it receives more vaccines as soon as possible. And I would like to use this opportunity to thank Australia for donating vaccines to Papua New Guinea, and my thanks to the Foreign Minister of Australia, who has expressed full support for Papua New Guinea.
- At the global level, we are continuing to assess the evolution of the pandemic, and to adjust our advice accordingly. Under the International Health Regulations, the Emergency Committee held its 7th meeting yesterday, and I look forward to receiving its advice on Monday. Globally, our message to all people in all countries remains the same: we all have a role to play in ending the pandemic.
Media briefing audio file (length 1hr 2 mins): Listen and download:
https://who.canto.global/b/P4SRC weblink:
http://terrance.who.int/mediacentre/presser/WHO-AUDIO_Emergencies_Coronavirus_Press_Conference_16APR2021.mp3 Video news edit (3mins 47 secs): Link: https://who.canto.global/b/J4H71 Media assets and information on COVID-19
https://who.canto.global/v/coronavirus  |
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