Coronavirus Outbreak (COVID – 19): WHO Update (15 April 2020)

The daily press briefing on coronavirus COVID-19, direct from WHO Headquarters, Geneva Switzerland with Dr Tedros WHO Director-General, Dr Micheal Ryan, Executive Director of the Health Emergencies Programme, and Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, Technical lead, Health Emergencies Programme.

WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said the “United States of America has been a longstanding and generous friend” to the Organization and hoped it would “continue to be so” as he expressed regret for the decision by the US President to order a hold in funding to the World Health Organization.

Speaking at a press conference in Geneva today (15 Apr), Tedros said, in due course, WHO’s performance in tackling this pandemic “will be reviewed by WHO’s Member States and the independent bodies that are in place to ensure transparency and accountability, for that matter, involving all responders.” He said this was part of the “usual process” put in place by WHO Member States. The WHO chief said, “No doubt, areas for improvement will be identified and there will be lessons for all of us to learn.”

Tedros told reports that the Organization was reviewing the impact of any withdrawal of US funding on its work, adding that WHO would work with its partners” to fill any financial gaps we face and to ensure our work continues uninterrupted.”

Micheal Ryan, Executive Director of the Health Emergencies Programme at WHO, said the Organization “alerted the world” on the 5th of January. He said, “Systems around the world, including the US began to activate their incident manager systems. On January 6th, and through the next number of weeks, we’ve produced multiple updates to countries, including briefing multiple governments, multiple scientists around the world on the developing situation, and that is what it was, a developing situation.”

Ryan stressed that in the middle of an influenza season, sometimes it’s very difficult to pick out a signal of a cluster of cases of a virus. He added, “In fact, it’s quite remarkable that such a cluster was picked out. 41 confirmed cases ultimately in a cluster in Wuhan.”

Tedros also told reporters that yesterday the first United Nations Solidarity Flight took off, transporting personal protective equipment, ventilators and lab supplies to many countries across Africa. He said, “The Solidarity Flight is part of a massive effort to ship lifesaving medical supplies to 95 countries across the globe.”


In This Story: COVID-19

Covid-19 is the official WHO name given to the novel coronavirus which broke out in late 2019 and began to spread in the early months of 2020.

Symptoms of coronavirus

The main symptoms of coronavirus are:

  • a persistent new cough (non productive, dry)
  • a high temperature (e.g. head feels warm to the touch)
  • shortness of breath (if this is abnormal for the individual, or increased)

Latest News about Covid-19

Below are stories from around the globe related to the 2020 outbreak of novel Coronavirus – since the WHO gave the Covid-19 naming. Most recent items are posted nearest the top.

5 Recent Items: COVID-19

Global national: jan. 19, 2024 | health data shows influenza, covid-19 cases decreasing in canada 1

Global National: Jan. 19, 2024 | Health data shows influenza, COVID-19 cases decreasing in Canada

Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500 hit record highs as tech stocks soar | January 19, 2024

Stock market today: Stocks climb with techs ready to roar | January 19, 2023

Dr Anthony Fauci ‘became part of the problem’ when it came to the spread of Covid misinformation

WEF summit: Canada warns of future supply shocks amid global instability

In This Story: Influenza

Flu is a common infection that can easily spread to other people.
The symptoms of flu are similar to a very bad cold. They include a high temperature, an aching body, tiredness and a headache.
Flu will usually get better in about a week if you rest, keep warm, drink plenty of fluids and take painkillers. Antibiotics do not help with flu.
You can help avoid flu by getting the flu vaccine every year.

1 Recent Items: Influenza

Global National: Jan. 19, 2024 | Health data shows influenza, COVID-19 cases decreasing in Canada

In This Story: Switzerland

Switzerland is a mountainous Central European country, home to numerous lakes, villages and the high peaks of the Alps. Its cities contain medieval quarters, with landmarks like capital Bern’s Zytglogge clock tower and Lucerne’s wooden chapel bridge. The country is also known for its ski resorts and hiking trails. Banking and finance are key industries, and Swiss watches and chocolate are world renowned.

2 Recent Items: Switzerland

Can international justice stop Israel? | Inside Story

Crypto, stablecoins, payment systems, and regulation: Circle CEO weighs in from Davos

In This Story: United States

The United States is a country also known as the United States of America, USA, US or just America. There are fifty states in the union, which is a federal republic ruled by a representative democracy. Nearly ten million square kilometres are inhabited by over 300 million people. The majority of Americans speak English.

4 Recent Items: United States

Why The World Is Rushing Back To The Moon

US march for life: Abortion rights likely issue in Nov election

US mulls seizing $300 billion in frozen Russian assets for Ukraine | DW News

North Korea and the new Cold War | 60 Minutes Full Episodes

In This Story: World Health Organization

The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The WHO Constitution, which establishes the agency’s governing structure and principles, states its main objective as “the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health.”

3 Recent Items: World Health Organization

WHO’s Science in 5: Sun and skin cancer #shorts

WHO’s Science in 5: Sun and skin cancer

WHO Describes ‘Atrocious’ Living Conditions in Gaza

Leave a Comment

We don't require your email address, or your name, for anyone to leave a comment. If you do add an email address, you may be notified if there are replies to your comment - we won't use it for any other purpose. Please make respectful comments, which add value, and avoid personal attacks on others. Links are not allowed in comments - 99% of spam comments, attempt to post links. Please describe where people may find additional information - for example "visit the UN website" or "search Google for..." rather than posting a link. Comments failing to adhere to these guidelines will not be published.