#covid19 presser @WHO starts with @DrTedros saying some countries are considering when to lift #physicaldistancing measures and others when to introduce them. Both decisions must be "guided by what we know about the coronavirus and how it behaves”, he says.

"We’re all learning all the time and adjusting our strategy, based on the latest available evidence”, says @DrTedros. A clearer picture is emerging, he says: "We know that #COVID19 spreads fast, and we know that it is deadly, 10 times deadlier than the 2009 flu pandemic."

#SARSCoV2 spreads fast, @DrTedros warns: "In some countries, #COVID19 cases are doubling every 3 to 4 days.” Hard to slow the spread, he says. “The way down is much slower than the way up.”

Means that control measures must be lifted slowly and in a controlled way, says @DrTedros: "Control measures can only be lifted if the right public health measures are in place, including significant capacity for contact tracing"

But some countries
particularly low- and middle-income countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America are still considering whether to introduce restrictions, says @drtedros. Explains the difficulties faced by many of such countries:

"Many poor people, migrants and refugees are already living in overcrowded conditions with few resources and little access to health care”, says @DrTedros. "How do you survive a lockdown when you depend on your daily labor to eat?”

. @WHO will tomorrow publish updated strategic advice for countries about when to implement measures and how to lift them.

Mentions 6 criteria for countries that want to lift restrictions:
- transmission controlled
- health system prepared to test, isolate cases, trace contacts
- nursing homes and hospitals protected from outbreaks
- prevention in schools etc.
- imports managed
- communities engaged

Q from Brazil about chloroquine. Should it be used? @drmikeryan says drug is being tested as part of Solidarity trial. Mentions that many patients need these drugs for other conditions, says in many cases they are life-saving in many cases.

Q from India about competition for diagnostic tests. @DrMikeRyan says there is a lot of pressure on supplies of diagnostics, PPE and other essential supplies around the world. "It is really important that everyone remains disciplined in this process..."

Q about US threatening to withdraw funding from @WHO. US is largest contributor to WHO, says @drtedros. Says he has met Trump several times and talked on the phone two weeks ago. “I hope the funding to WHO will continue.”

Q about #covid19 situation now in Europe. Is turning point coming? "We all dearly hope that that is the case”, says @DrMikeRyan. on Number of confirmed cases and hospitalisations suggest things are stabilising. But: "Now is the time for vigilance, now is the time to double down."

On lifting restrictions:
“We need to have a much more stable exit strategy, that allows us to move stably and persistently away from lockdown”, says @DrMikeRyan.
Really important that the lifting of measures does not happen all at once all over Europe, says @mvankerkhove.