Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, dear colleagues and friends,
Good morning, good afternoon and good evening to all Member States, and thank you for joining us once again.
Reported cases of COVID-19 have increased nearly 30% over the past two weeks.
Four out of six of the WHO sub-regions saw cases increase in the last week.
In Europe and America, BA.4 and BA.5 are driving waves. A new sub lineage of Omicron called BA.2.75 has also been detected, which we’re following closely.
Compounding the challenge are a number of factors:
First, testing has reduced dramatically in many countries. This obscures the true picture of an evolving virus and the real burden of COVID-19 disease globally.
It also means that treatments are not given early enough to prevent serious illness and death.
Second, new treatments, especially promising new oral antivirals, are still not reaching low- and low-middle income countries, depriving whole populations that need them.
Third, as the virus evolves, vaccines protection – while still really effective at preventing serious disease and death – does wane.
Decreasing immunity underscores the importance of boosters, especially for the most at-risk.
Fourth, each wave of the virus leaves more people with a post-COVID condition, often referred to as long-COVID.
Health systems are strained, and economies and societies are being disrupted.
Essential steps to take include:
One, vaccinate and boost those at most risk. This includes older people, people with chronic illnesses, the immunocompromised and health workers.
Many of these groups remain unprotected in too many countries.
Two, make new oral antivirals and other treatments available to all.
Working with Global Fund and UNICEF, WHO has developed an allocation mechanism to support countries as antivirals become available.
However, our organizations are still trying to finalize the terms and conditions for low- and middle-income countries.
Yesterday I called on Pfizer to work closely with us and with countries to ensure its new oral antiviral is available much more quickly.
I will keep you apprised of the outcome in the coming weeks.
Third, is people are in places where cases are on the rise, they should use tried and tested public health measures to mitigate risk, such as ventilation, masks, physical distancing, and if people are sick, to stay home.
Fourth, it is crucial to accelerate research and development into next generation vaccines, tests and treatments.
WHO is working with scientists and researchers around the world to make this happen through the many networks working with the R&D Blueprint, and the Solidarity Trials for Vaccines and Therapeutics, to help make clinical trials speedier and more efficient.
We don’t know what the next variant will be like. That is why we need to develop the next generation of counter measures quickly.
Fifth, to strengthen the global health architecture for health emergency and response, both nationally and internationally.
We welcome the news about the creation of the financial intermediary fund, which will focus on strengthening pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response capacities, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries.
WHO and the World Bank will co-lead the fund.
Meanwhile, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body continues its work on the new accord for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. We hope all Member States engage in this process.
===
On monkeypox, I continue to be concerned by the scale and spread of the virus.
More than 7,000 cases have been recorded in 60 countries.
Testing remains a challenge and it’s highly probable that there are a significant number of cases not being picked up.
Europe is the current epicentre of the outbreak, recording more than 80 percent of cases globally.
In Africa, cases are also appearing in countries not previously affected, while countries with experience of monkeypox are finding record levels of infection.
My teams are following the data closely. I plan to reconvene the Emergency Committee so they are updated on the current epidemiology and evolution of the outbreak, and implementation of counter measures.
I will bring them together during the week of 18 July, or sooner if needed.
WHO is working with countries and vaccine manufacturers to coordinate the sharing of vaccine, which is scarce and needs to be accessible to at risk people.
There is a need to collect data on the efficacy and safety of both vaccines and therapeutics for monkeypox and WHO is helping coordinate research efforts to do this.
WHO is also working with civil society and the LGBTIQ+ community, especially to break the stigma around the virus and share information so people can protect themselves.
===
Finally, in Syria, the humanitarian needs are at their highest level since the war started 11 years ago.
WHO is working across the country to provide lifesaving health support.
In the northwest of the country, some 4.4 million people, including more than 3.5 million women and children, need humanitarian assistance.
They depend on cross-border access for their healthcare, their vaccines and medicines.
We hope the Security Council will find agreement to preserve the health and welfare of this highly vulnerable population by renewing the resolution to keep a cross-border humanitarian corridor open.
===
Today, we’ll be hearing an epidemiological update on monkeypox from Assistant Director-General Dr Jaouad Mahjour and Dr Rosamund Lewis.
We will then hear an update on progress by the ACT Accelerator Facilitation Council and the upcoming independent evaluation of ACT-A.
I am delighted that we have Professor Olive Shisana of South Africa and Ambassador Dr John-Arne Røttingen of Norway with us, to provide this briefing.
===
As always, we are grateful for your engagement with today’s presentations, and we look forward to your questions, comments and guidance.
I thank you.