More than 200,000 cases of COVID-19 have been reported to WHO, and more than 8000 people have lost their lives. COVID 19 virus has reached 164 countries, areas or territories with more cases appearing at a fast pace.
More than 80% of all cases are from two regions – the Western Pacific and Europe.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, DG said during media briefing transmission chains can continue at a low level, then resurge once physical distancing measures are lifted.
Top 20 countries infected by COVID 19 on 18-3-2020
1-China :81151 cases
2-Italy :31506 cases
3-Iran (Islamic Republic of) :16169 cases
4-Spain :11178 cases
5-Republic of Korea :8413 cases
6-France :7652 cases
7-Germany :7156 cases
8-United States of America :4356 cases
9-Switzerland :2650 cases
10-The United Kingdom :1954 cases
11-Netherlands :1705 cases
12-Belgium :1486 cases
13-Austria :1471 cases
14-Norway :1423 cases
15-Sweden :1167 cases
16-Denmark :1044 cases
17-Japan :873 cases
(International conveyance (Diamond Princess) :712 cases)
18-Malaysia :673 cases
19-Australia :510 cases
20- Czechia :464 cases
Meanwhile, it is being reported 276 Indians are infected worldwide.About 255, the largest number of infected Indians, are in Iran.
During media briefing ,DG, WHO said Physical distancing measures – like cancelling sporting events, concerts and other large gatherings – can help to slow transmission of the virus.
He said that every country can reduce the burden on the health system by making epidemics manageable, allowing targeted and focused measures.
WHO strategy to isolate, test, treat and trace.
WHO is puting more stress on one i and 3 T. WHO says that to suppress and control epidemics, countries must isolate, test, treat and trace.
WHO continues to recommend that isolating, testing and treating every suspected case, and tracing every contact, must be the backbone of the response in every country. This is the best hope of preventing widespread community transmission.
Most countries with sporadic cases or clusters of cases are still in the position to do this.
Many countries are experiencing intense epidemics with extensive community transmission.
DG WHO praises South Korea
DG WHO said that a month ago, the Republic of Korea was facing accelerating community transmission. South Korea educated, empowered and engaged communities.It developed an innovative testing strategy and expanded lab capacity;it rationed the use of masks;it did exhaustive contact tracing and testing in selected areas;and it isolated suspected cases in designated facilities rather than hospitals or at home.
As a result, cases have been declining for weeks. At the peak there were more than 800 cases, and the report was only 90 cases on 18th March,2020.
WHO appealed to all countries to implement a comprehensive approach, with the aim of slowing down transmission and flattening the curve.
This approach is saving lives and buying time for the development of vaccines and treatments.
The first vaccine trial has begun in USA, just 60 days after the genetic sequence of the virus was shared by China. This is an incredible achievement.
More than 200,000 cases of COVID-19 have been reported to WHO, and more than 8000 people have lost their lives. COVID 19 virus has reached 164 countries, areas or territories with more cases appearing at a fast pace.
More than 80% of all cases are from two regions – the Western Pacific and Europe.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, DG said during media briefing transmission chains can continue at a low level, then resurge once physical distancing measures are lifted.
Top 20 countries infected by COVID 19 on 18-3-2020
1-China :81151 cases
2-Italy :31506 cases
3-Iran (Islamic Republic of) :16169 cases
4-Spain :11178 cases
5-Republic of Korea :8413 cases
6-France :7652 cases
7-Germany :7156 cases
8-United States of America :4356 cases
9-Switzerland :2650 cases
10-The United Kingdom :1954 cases
11-Netherlands :1705 cases
12-Belgium :1486 cases
13-Austria :1471 cases
14-Norway :1423 cases
15-Sweden :1167 cases
16-Denmark :1044 cases
17-Japan :873 cases
(International conveyance (Diamond Princess) :712 cases)
18-Malaysia :673 cases
19-Australia :510 cases
20- Czechia :464 cases
Meanwhile, it is being reported 276 Indians are infected worldwide.About 255, the largest number of infected Indians, are in Iran.
During media briefing ,DG, WHO said Physical distancing measures – like cancelling sporting events, concerts and other large gatherings – can help to slow transmission of the virus.
He said that every country can reduce the burden on the health system by making epidemics manageable, allowing targeted and focused measures.
WHO strategy to isolate, test, treat and trace.
WHO is puting more stress on one i and 3 T. WHO says that to suppress and control epidemics, countries must isolate, test, treat and trace.
WHO continues to recommend that isolating, testing and treating every suspected case, and tracing every contact, must be the backbone of the response in every country. This is the best hope of preventing widespread community transmission.
Most countries with sporadic cases or clusters of cases are still in the position to do this.
Many countries are experiencing intense epidemics with extensive community transmission.
DG WHO praises South Korea
DG WHO said that a month ago, the Republic of Korea was facing accelerating community transmission. South Korea educated, empowered and engaged communities.It developed an innovative testing strategy and expanded lab capacity;it rationed the use of masks;it did exhaustive contact tracing and testing in selected areas;and it isolated suspected cases in designated facilities rather than hospitals or at home.
As a result, cases have been declining for weeks. At the peak there were more than 800 cases, and the report was only 90 cases on 18th March,2020.
WHO appealed to all countries to implement a comprehensive approach, with the aim of slowing down transmission and flattening the curve.
This approach is saving lives and buying time for the development of vaccines and treatments.
The first vaccine trial has begun in USA, just 60 days after the genetic sequence of the virus was shared by China. This is an incredible achievement.
