During the joint press conference in Italy on COVID-19, WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr Hans Kluge, pointed out the efforts being made to contain the spread of the virus amid the rapid increase in cases all over Europe. Kluge firstly stated that there are currently over 80,000 cases of the coronavirus in 34 countries, but expert groups are still working to help the people in the affected areas as much as possible.
“Thanks to the Ministry of Health of Italy for welcoming our joint WHO-ECDC expert team to Rome. We are doing our best to support the Italian authorities and please be assured that we are working around the clock. The meeting that kicked off yesterday defined our collaboration in areas such as clinical management, infection prevention and control, surveillance and risk communication. We will join experts in the Ministry of Health and the Istituto Superiore di Sanità to analyze information and data, we will work with the affected regions, and we will advise and operate in a common effort to stop COVID-19, acting hand in hand, joined by a common cause,” Dr. Hans Kluge said.
While Italy’s COVID-19 breakout is affecting both its economy as well as the global market, Kluge emphasized that the authorities have to place “health above economic prosperity” in line with the containment strategy.
Dr. Kluge also urged others to learn from Italy’s experience to understand the ways to tackle the virus. To the Italian people, Kluge recommended that they maintain a good hygiene, search for accurate information and refrain from discriminating people based on their origin. Furthermore, he congratulated the role and work of health professionals, while simultaneously pointing out the media’s role to “perform a public service” and advising governments to identify cases of the virus as well as communicate with the people.
