大家下午好。 

过去两周，中国境外的COVID-19病例增加了12倍，受影响国家的数量增加了两倍。 

目前，114个国家有11.8万多病例，4291人丧生。 

数以千计的人正在医院里与生命搏斗。 

在未来的几天和几周内，我们预计病例数、死亡人数和受影响国家数量将会进一步攀升。 

世卫组织一直在昼夜不停地评估此次疫情，我们对令人震惊的疫情传播程度和严重程度深感担忧，也对令人震惊的无所作为程度深感担忧。 

因此我们评估认为COVID-19已具有大流行特征。 

大流行不是一个可以随意或轻率使用的词语。这个词语若被误用，会造成不应有的恐慌，或令人误以为抗击已于事无补，只能听天由命，因而导致不必要的痛苦和死亡。 

将本次疫情称为大流行不会改变世卫组织对此病毒威胁的评估，不会改变世卫组织正在做的事情，也不会改变各国应该做的事情。 

我们以前从未见过冠状病毒引发的大流行。这是首次由冠状病毒引发的大流行。 

我们以前也从未见过可以得到控制的大流行。 

世卫组织自获悉第一批病例以来，一直处于全面积极应对态势。 

我们每天都在呼吁各国紧急采取大刀阔斧的行动。 

我们已明白无误地拉响了警报。 

正如我在周一所说过的，仅仅看病例数和受影响国家数目可能会以偏概全。 

在全球114个国家报告的11.8万例病例中，90%以上的病例仅发生在4个国家，其中两个国家(中国和大韩民国)的疫情已呈明显下降趋势。 

81个国家没有报告任何病例，57个国家报告了10例或不到10例病例。 

我们必须反复和明确地大声疾呼：所有国家仍然可以改变这一疫情的走向。 

如果各国发现、检测、治疗、隔离、追踪，并动员本国人民参与应对措施，那些有少数病例的国家就可以防止这些病例成为聚集性病例，而那些有聚集性病例的国家就可以防止其发展成为社区传播。 

即便是那些有社区传播或大范围聚集性病例的国家也能扭转这种病毒的发展趋势。 

一些国家已经证明这一病毒是可以被抑制和控制的。 

对于许多正在应对大规模聚集性病例或社区传播的国家来说，面临的挑战不是它们是否能够抑制和控制病毒，而是它们是否愿意这样做。 

一些国家因缺乏能力而苦于应付。 

一些国家因缺乏资源而捉襟见肘。 

一些国家因缺乏决心而备受煎熬。 

我们感谢伊朗、意大利和大韩民国为减缓病毒和控制疫情所采取的措施。 

我们知道，就像中国所蒙受的那样，这些措施给本国社会和经济带来沉重打击。 

所有国家都必须在保护健康、最大限度地减少经济和社会混乱和尊重人权之间保持微妙的平衡。 

世卫组织的任务是维护公众健康。同时，我们也正在与各个部门的伙伴合作，以减轻这一大流行病造成的社会和经济后果。 

这不仅仅是一场公共卫生危机，这场危机将波及各行各业，因此，每个行业和每个人都必须参加这场战斗。 

我从一开始就说过，各国必须采取政府上下一致和全社会的方法，实行统筹战略，预防感染，拯救生命，尽量减少影响。 

我归纳为四大要点。 

首先，做好准备和随时应对。 

第二，检测、保护和治疗。 

第三，减少传播。 

第四，创新和学习。 

我提醒所有国家，需要启动并扩大本国应急机制。 

向本国人民讲解风险和如何保护自己。这事关所有的人。 

发现、隔离、检测和治疗每个病例，并追踪每个接触者。 

让你们的医院准备好。 

保护和培训本国医务人员。 

我们彼此相互需要，因此，我们必须守望相助。 

人们从未对一个词语给予如此多的关注。 

让我送给大家一些更重要和更可行的词语。 

预防。 

准备。 

公共卫生。 

政治领导力。 

最重要的是，人民。 

让我们同舟共济，从容面对，正确行事，保护全世界人民。这是完全可以做到的。 

谢谢大家。

Good afternoon.

In the past two weeks, the number of cases of COVID-19 outside China has increased 13-fold, and the number of affected countries has tripled.  

There are now more than 118,000 cases in 114 countries, and 4,291 people have lost their lives. 

Thousands more are fighting for their lives in hospitals.

In the days and weeks ahead, we expect to see the number of cases, the number of deaths, and the number of affected countries climb even higher.

WHO has been assessing this outbreak around the clock and we are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction.

We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic. 

Pandemic is not a word to use lightly or carelessly. It is a word that, if misused, can cause unreasonable fear, or unjustified acceptance that the fight is over, leading to unnecessary suffering and death.

Describing the situation as a pandemic does not change WHO’s assessment of the threat posed by this virus. It doesn’t change what WHO is doing, and it doesn’t change what countries should do.

We have never before seen a pandemic sparked by a coronavirus. This is the first pandemic caused by a coronavirus.

And we have never before seen a pandemic that can be controlled, at the same time.  

WHO has been in full response mode since we were notified of the first cases.  

And we have called every day for countries to take urgent and aggressive action.

We have rung the alarm bell loud and clear. 

===

As I said on Monday, just looking at the number of cases and the number of countries affected does not tell the full story.

Of the 118,000 cases reported globally in 114 countries, more than 90 percent of cases are in just four countries, and two of those – China and the Republic of Korea - have significantly declining epidemics. 

81 countries have not reported any cases, and 57 countries have reported 10 cases or less.

We cannot say this loudly enough, or clearly enough, or often enough: all countries can still change the course of this pandemic. 

If countries detect, test, treat, isolate, trace, and mobilize their people in the response, those with a handful of cases can prevent those cases becoming clusters, and those clusters becoming community transmission.

Even those countries with community transmission or large clusters can turn the tide on this virus. 

Several countries have demonstrated that this virus can be suppressed and controlled. 

The challenge for many countries who are now dealing with large clusters or community transmission is not whether they can do the same – it’s whether they will.  

Some countries are struggling with a lack of capacity. 

Some countries are struggling with a lack of resources. 

Some countries are struggling with a lack of resolve.

We are grateful for the measures being taken in Iran, Italy and the Republic of Korea to slow the virus and control their epidemics. 

We know that these measures are taking a heavy toll on societies and economies, just as they did in China.

All countries must strike a fine balance between protecting health, minimizing economic and social disruption, and respecting human rights.

WHO’s mandate is public health. But we’re working with many partners across all sectors to mitigate the social and economic consequences of this pandemic.

This is not just a public health crisis, it is a crisis that will touch every sector – so every sector and every individual must be involved in the fight. 

I have said from the beginning that countries must take a whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach, built around a comprehensive strategy to prevent infections, save lives and minimize impact.

Let me summarize it in four key areas. 

First, prepare and be ready.

Second, detect, protect and treat.

Third, reduce transmission.

Fourth, innovate and learn. 

I remind all countries that we are calling on you to activate and scale up your emergency response mechanisms;

Communicate with your people about the risks and how they can protect themselves – this is everybody’s business; 

Find, isolate, test and treat every case and trace every contact;

Ready your hospitals;

Protect and train your health workers. 

And let’s all look out for each other, because we need each other.

=== 

There’s been so much attention on one word. 

Let me give you some other words that matter much more, and that are much more actionable.

Prevention. 

Preparedness. 

Public health.

Political leadership. 

And most of all, people.

We’re in this together, to do the right things with calm and protect the citizens of the world. It’s doable.

I thank you.