World Health Organization (WHO)Verified account

"With every day that passes, we know a little bit more about this #coronavirus & the disease it causes. We know that more than 80% of patients have mild disease & will recover"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"20% of patients have severe or critical #COVID19, ranging from shortness of breath to septic shock & multi-organ failure. These patients require intensive care using equipment such as respiratory support machines that are in short supply in many African countries"-@DrTedros

"In 2% of reported cases, the #coronavirus is fatal, and the risk of death increases the older a patient is, and with underlying health conditions. We see relatively few cases among children. More research is needed to understand why"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"Our biggest concern continues to be the potential for #COVID19 to spread in countries with weaker health systems. In partnership with the @AfricaCDC, we’re working hard to prepare countries in Africa for the potential arrival of the virus"-@DrTedros #coronavirus

"We have just appointed Dr @JNkengasong, Director @AfricaCDC & Prof Samba Sow, Director-General of the Center for Vaccine Development in , as special envoys on #COVID19, to provide strategic advice and high-level political advocacy & engagement in Africa"-@DrTedros #coronavirus

"We’ve published a Strategic Preparedness & Response Plan, with a call for US$675m to support countries, especially the most vulnerable. WHO has identified 13 priority countries in Africa because of their direct links to #China or the high volume of travel with "-@DrTedros

"Increasing number of African countries are now able to test for #COVID19 with laboratory test kits supplied by WHO, compared with only two labs just a couple of weeks ago"-@DrTedros #coronavirus

"Some countries in Africa, including , are also leveraging the capacity they have built up to test for #Ebola to test for #COVID19. This is a great example of how investing in health systems can pay dividends for health security"-@DrTedros #coronavirus