大家下午好。 

過去兩周，中國(guó)境外的COVID-19病例增加了12倍，受影響國(guó)家的數(shù)量增加了兩倍。 

目前，114個(gè)國(guó)家有11.8萬(wàn)多病例，4291人喪生。 

數(shù)以千計(jì)的人正在醫(yī)院里與生命搏斗。 

在未來(lái)的幾天和幾周內(nèi)，我們預(yù)計(jì)病例數(shù)、死亡人數(shù)和受影響國(guó)家數(shù)量將會(huì)進(jìn)一步攀升。 

世衛(wèi)組織一直在晝夜不停地評(píng)估此次疫情，我們對(duì)令人震驚的疫情傳播程度和嚴(yán)重程度深感擔(dān)憂，也對(duì)令人震驚的無(wú)所作為程度深感擔(dān)憂。 

因此我們?cè)u(píng)估認(rèn)為COVID-19已具有大流行特征。 

大流行不是一個(gè)可以隨意或輕率使用的詞語(yǔ)。這個(gè)詞語(yǔ)若被誤用，會(huì)造成不應(yīng)有的恐慌，或令人誤以為抗擊已于事無(wú)補(bǔ)，只能聽天由命，因而導(dǎo)致不必要的痛苦和死亡。 

將本次疫情稱為大流行不會(huì)改變世衛(wèi)組織對(duì)此病毒威脅的評(píng)估，不會(huì)改變世衛(wèi)組織正在做的事情，也不會(huì)改變各國(guó)應(yīng)該做的事情。 

我們以前從未見過冠狀病毒引發(fā)的大流行。這是首次由冠狀病毒引發(fā)的大流行。 

我們以前也從未見過可以得到控制的大流行。 

世衛(wèi)組織自獲悉第一批病例以來(lái)，一直處于全面積極應(yīng)對(duì)態(tài)勢(shì)。 

我們每天都在呼吁各國(guó)緊急采取大刀闊斧的行動(dòng)。 

我們已明白無(wú)誤地拉響了警報(bào)。 

正如我在周一所說過的，僅僅看病例數(shù)和受影響國(guó)家數(shù)目可能會(huì)以偏概全。 

在全球114個(gè)國(guó)家報(bào)告的11.8萬(wàn)例病例中，90%以上的病例僅發(fā)生在4個(gè)國(guó)家，其中兩個(gè)國(guó)家(中國(guó)和大韓民國(guó))的疫情已呈明顯下降趨勢(shì)。 

81個(gè)國(guó)家沒有報(bào)告任何病例，57個(gè)國(guó)家報(bào)告了10例或不到10例病例。 

我們必須反復(fù)和明確地大聲疾呼：所有國(guó)家仍然可以改變這一疫情的走向。 

如果各國(guó)發(fā)現(xiàn)、檢測(cè)、治療、隔離、追蹤，并動(dòng)員本國(guó)人民參與應(yīng)對(duì)措施，那些有少數(shù)病例的國(guó)家就可以防止這些病例成為聚集性病例，而那些有聚集性病例的國(guó)家就可以防止其發(fā)展成為社區(qū)傳播。 

即便是那些有社區(qū)傳播或大范圍聚集性病例的國(guó)家也能扭轉(zhuǎn)這種病毒的發(fā)展趨勢(shì)。 

一些國(guó)家已經(jīng)證明這一病毒是可以被抑制和控制的。 

對(duì)于許多正在應(yīng)對(duì)大規(guī)模聚集性病例或社區(qū)傳播的國(guó)家來(lái)說，面臨的挑戰(zhàn)不是它們是否能夠抑制和控制病毒，而是它們是否愿意這樣做。 

一些國(guó)家因缺乏能力而苦于應(yīng)付。 

一些國(guó)家因缺乏資源而捉襟見肘。 

一些國(guó)家因缺乏決心而備受煎熬。 

我們感謝伊朗、意大利和大韓民國(guó)為減緩病毒和控制疫情所采取的措施。 

我們知道，就像中國(guó)所蒙受的那樣，這些措施給本國(guó)社會(huì)和經(jīng)濟(jì)帶來(lái)沉重打擊。 

所有國(guó)家都必須在保護(hù)健康、最大限度地減少經(jīng)濟(jì)和社會(huì)混亂和尊重人權(quán)之間保持微妙的平衡。 

世衛(wèi)組織的任務(wù)是維護(hù)公眾健康。同時(shí)，我們也正在與各個(gè)部門的伙伴合作，以減輕這一大流行病造成的社會(huì)和經(jīng)濟(jì)后果。 

這不僅僅是一場(chǎng)公共衛(wèi)生危機(jī)，這場(chǎng)危機(jī)將波及各行各業(yè)，因此，每個(gè)行業(yè)和每個(gè)人都必須參加這場(chǎng)戰(zhàn)斗。 

我從一開始就說過，各國(guó)必須采取政府上下一致和全社會(huì)的方法，實(shí)行統(tǒng)籌戰(zhàn)略，預(yù)防感染，拯救生命，盡量減少影響。 

我歸納為四大要點(diǎn)。 

首先，做好準(zhǔn)備和隨時(shí)應(yīng)對(duì)。 

第二，檢測(cè)、保護(hù)和治療。 

第三，減少傳播。 

第四，創(chuàng)新和學(xué)習(xí)。 

我提醒所有國(guó)家，需要啟動(dòng)并擴(kuò)大本國(guó)應(yīng)急機(jī)制。 

向本國(guó)人民講解風(fēng)險(xiǎn)和如何保護(hù)自己。這事關(guān)所有的人。 

發(fā)現(xiàn)、隔離、檢測(cè)和治療每個(gè)病例，并追蹤每個(gè)接觸者。 

讓你們的醫(yī)院準(zhǔn)備好。 

保護(hù)和培訓(xùn)本國(guó)醫(yī)務(wù)人員。 

我們彼此相互需要，因此，我們必須守望相助。 

人們從未對(duì)一個(gè)詞語(yǔ)給予如此多的關(guān)注。 

讓我送給大家一些更重要和更可行的詞語(yǔ)。 

預(yù)防。 

準(zhǔn)備。 

公共衛(wèi)生。 

政治領(lǐng)導(dǎo)力。 

最重要的是，人民。 

讓我們同舟共濟(jì)，從容面對(duì)，正確行事，保護(hù)全世界人民。這是完全可以做到的。 

謝謝大家。

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.