Comment of WHO director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on the novel coronavirus outbreak which has become a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) ‘WHO against imposing travel or trade bans on China’ |01 February 2020
Speaking at a press conference after a closed-door meeting of the Emergency Committee, the WHO director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stressed that the WHO disfavours or even opposes imposing travel or trade restrictions on China.
Under the International Health Regulations (IHR), the WHO director-general has the authority to determine that an outbreak constitutes a PHEIC when certain conditions are met. The designation is aimed at mobilising more international resources to deal with the epidemic.
Since the IHR entered into force in 2007, the WHO has made multiple PHEIC declarations.
Ghebreyesus noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping personally commands and deploys the prevention and containment efforts.
“The speed with which China detected the outbreak, isolated the virus, sequenced the genome and shared it with WHO and the world is very impressive, and beyond words. So is China's commitment to transparency and to supporting other countries,” he said.
“In many ways, China is actually setting a new standard for outbreak response,” he added.
“That reflects not only China's high sense of responsibility for the lives and health of its own people, but also its strong support for global disease prevention and control,” he said.
Ghebreyesus said he believes that China will effectively contain and eventually defeat the epidemic, adding that China's efforts to combat the disease deserve respect and appreciation, and are worth learning.
In fact, many of the prevention and containment measures China has taken far exceed relevant requirements for dealing with emergencies, and the measures China has taken are good not only for that country but also for the rest of the world.
Now the situation is still developing and more research is needed, and particularly countries with fragile health systems should enhance their responses, said the WHO chief.
That is the main reason behind the PHEIC declaration, he said, adding that considering global health security, it is also a necessary step to achieve a scientific, rational and calm response based on evidence, and to help other countries take scientific, reasonable and appropriate measures to prevent the epidemic.
Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist of the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, said that the PHEIC declaration is a standard practice of the WHO.
“China's current prevention and control measures are the strictest and very effective. We are confident that we can effectively contain the epidemic and finally overcome it,” Wu said.
Virus can be contained
“The Committee believes that it is still possible to interrupt virus spread, provided that countries put in place strong measures to detect disease early, isolate and treat cases, trace contacts, and promote social distancing measures commensurate with the risk.”
Mr Tedros tweeted following the meeting: “We must remember that these are people, not numbers. More important than the declaration of a public health emergency are the committee’s recommendations for preventing the spread…and ensuring a measured and evidence-based response.”
Travel and trade should continue
He said there was “no reason for measures that unnecessarily interfere with international travel and trade. We call on all countries to implement decisions that are evidence-based and consistent. WHO stands ready to provide advice to any country that is considering what measures to take.”
The Committee said evidence has shown that restricting the movement of people and goods during public health emergencies “may be ineffective and may divert resources from other interventions.
“Further, restrictions may interrupt needed aid and technical support, may disrupt businesses and may have negative effects” on the economies of those countries affected.
Source: Xinhua News Agency and UN News