Maria Van Kerkhove
@mvankerkhove
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Infectious Disease Epidemiologist; COVID-19 Technical Lead, Director ai Epidemic & Pandemic Preparedness & Prevention, WHO, WHE, Mom of 2. Opinions my own
Geneva, Switzerland
Joined November 2013
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Long🧵
#COVID19
and where we are. I’m worried.
We are entering the 5th year of the pandemic and we are certainly in a different phase. This phase is marked by an evolving virus (with the XBB and BA.2 sublineages circulating and JN.1 becoming dominant).
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I’m not into sub-tweeting:
Allowing
#SARSCoV2
to spread & infect others by not implementing consistently proven actions that prevent infections, reduce spread, prevent disease & save lives is immoral, unethical, & non-scientific.
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Enough with personal attacks. I can take a lot, but it’s enough.
I am a scientist. In my work, we work with 1000s, we follow the whole of science. We update regularly.
Stop retweeting 1 old tweet, 1 answer from >1yr ago. Listen to my statements, read our updated guidance.
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“The pandemic is not yet over. The virus is still circulating and still changing...If the pandemic has taught us nothing else, it has taught us that health is the most precious commodity on earth. A commodity that must be cherished, prized, and fought for every day…”
@DrTedros
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We are playing fire with this virus…
I understand that the world wants to be done with the
#COVID19
pandemic, but such intense circulation will lead to more variants.
Even with current variants, deaths are far too high & totally unacceptable when we have tools to prevent them.
"Without testing, without sequencing, without these public health measures in place, we're really playing with fire"
@WHO
's
@mvankerkhove
👇
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>170,000 people have died from
#COVID19
in the last 8 weeks
10,000-30,000 people dead each week, that we know of
Each week
Take that in
Parents, grandparents, siblings, children, friends, cherished people…
This is appalling when we can prevent them
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Am I supposed to be enjoying watching transmission happening in front of my eyes?
The
#COVID19
pandemic is not taking a break tonight…
#SARSCoV2
#DeltaVariant
will take advantage of unvaccinated people, in crowded settings, unmasked, screaming/shouting/singing. Devastating.
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We are not yet living with
#COVID19
responsibly. Not even close.
Short🧵
↗️People are dying unnecessarily
↗️Millions infected each week
↗️Billions not fully vaccinated
↗️Lives & livelihoods suffering
↘️Dismantling systems needed to end the global emergency & fight the next one
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Millions have died from
#COVID19
since the start of this pandemic and 15000 are still dying each week.
15000 mothers, daughters, fathers, sons, brothers, sisters, friends… people we love.
I know we are tired, but when did this become acceptable?
A short thread…
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.
@WHO
Urges Fully Vaccinated People To Continue Wearing Masks As Delta Variant Spreads
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Omicron is NOT the common cold.
While some reports show a reduced risk of hospitalisation of Omicron compared to Delta, there are still far too many people infected, in hospital sick & dying from Omicron (& Delta).
We can prevent infections, save lives now.
#VaccinEquity
@WHO
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The next weeks & months are critical to be vigilant for
#COVID19
As individuals: get vaccinated and take measures to reduce risk of (re)infection. Mask indoors when around others outside your immediate family. Distance. Test. Ventilate. Wash hands. Live life safely. Be kind.
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I thank researchers from 🇿🇦 and 🇧🇼 for sharing information with
@WHO
& the world about B.1.1.529 variant that has been recently detected. We will convene our TAG-VE again today to discuss
Everyone out there: do not discriminate against countries that share their findings openly
Dr
@mvankerkhove
gives an update on
#COVID19
virus variant B.1.1.529, during the
#AskWHO
session on 25 November 2021 ⬇️
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How many wake up calls do we need to learn that vaccinating people who are most vulnerable to
#COVID19
in ALL countries is what is epidemiologically, ethically and economically the right thing to do?
@WHO
#COVAX
@DrTedros
@DrMikeRyan
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… Far too many countries have abandoned public health measures (masks indoors, distance), not invested (ventilation, PPE, HCW), continue to politicize
#COVID19
undermining the effectiveness of tools that work… all of which allows the virus to continue to circulate intensely…
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The trajectory of the pandemic is in our hands. It has always been in our hands. What happens now & into 2022 is up to us.
Collectively, we can end the
#COVID19
pandemic through action. It’s up to all of us. We can save lives now. We must.
@WHO
@DrTedros
@DrMikeRyan
@gabbystern
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Quick thread on the C.1.2 variant that has been in the news and on twitter today…
First remember that the more the virus spreads the more opportunity it has to change. We have the tools to prevent infections, reduce the spread & save lives - lets use them.
Keep reading…
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What keeps me up at night is the complacency, people suffering, death, the dismantling of surveillance, testing, sequencing, workforce…
Pandemic preparedness should be happening now… while we are fighting the current pandemic. Invest now. What are we waiting for?
@WHO
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🧵Anyone who knows me knows that I despise the phrase “living with COVID”. We are living with
#COVID19
& we must do it better. Governments must better manage COVID-19: prevent infections especially among those most at risk for severe disease & treat those infected & suffering…
Please take care,
#COVID19
has not gone away. We must remain vigilant and do more to prevent infections, severe disease,
#LongCOVID
and deaths.
Play your part, live your lives. Your life is precious.
@WHO
@DrTedros
@DrMikeRyan
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BA.2 is already a VOC. It is Omicron.
20) It is now 100% clear that the
@WHO
needs to declare
#Ba2
a high risk “variant of concern”. Dear
@mvankerkhove
@doctorsoumya
@DrTedros
@gabbystern
@DrMikeRyan
— please make it so. VOC declaration of BA2 now ASAP!
See 🧵 below.
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Globally, there large numbers of
#SARSCoV2
infections/ re-infections each week, hundreds of thousands estimated in hospital and thousands dying, many suffering from
#LongCOVID
… governments cannot drop the ball, they must remain vigilant. ⬇️
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What happens when we allow the virus to circulate at such an intense level.👇The virus continues to evolve and more variants are expected. Recombinants are also expected… as we have been explaining for a very long time.
Vaccines AND, not vaccines only
#COVID19
@WHO
@DrTedros
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PHSM does not mean “lockdown”. All governments need to implement clear, targeted, tailored and agile response actions. Access to tools remains key.
This is tough, no doubt, but we can do this. Seriously.
Psst, Not 1 word ⬆️ is anything new from me or
@WHO
#COVID19
#LongCOVID
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All future scenarios of
#COVID19
need to take into account Post COVID-19 condition (
#LongCovid
) and provide the care for people that they need, everywhere.
Get vaccinated, prevent infections, be kind, provide appropriate care, respect and protect health workers.
@WHO
There are a significant number of people suffering from
#LongCovid
among the 409 million infected. This needs more attention because long COVID will be part of our future
@mvankerkhove
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This virus is formidable… Don’t wait to act.
Double down…reduce the spread of all variants inc Delta & Omicron, increase
#COVID19
vaccination in at risk groups in ALL countries.
Now, not weeks from now. Now.
@WHO
@DrTedros
@DrMikeRyan
#VaccinEquity
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So where exactly are we now in the
#COVID19
pandemic and where are we going?
Long thread ⬇️
@DrTedros
@DrMikeRyan
@WHO
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It’s marked by complacency. I will never accept that there is an “acceptable level of dearth” (something I’m asked) for
#COVID19
.
We are talking about people, parents, children, people who laugh, love, dream
I wrote this last March and this still applies
So where exactly are we now in the
#COVID19
pandemic and where are we going?
Long thread ⬇️
@DrTedros
@DrMikeRyan
@WHO
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Following the meeting of the
@WHO
TAG-VE today, WHO classifies B.1.1.529 as a variant of concern named Omicron.
We call for increased surveillance and genetic testing & thank 🇿🇦 for sharing their work in real time.
More information can be found here⬇️
I thank researchers from 🇿🇦 and 🇧🇼 for sharing information with
@WHO
& the world about B.1.1.529 variant that has been recently detected. We will convene our TAG-VE again today to discuss
Everyone out there: do not discriminate against countries that share their findings openly
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It’s marked by reduced impact compared to the peak of
#COVID19
a few years ago, but it’s still a global health threat and it’s still a pandemic causing far too many (re)infections, hospitalisations, deaths and long covid when tools exist to prevent them.
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We can’t forget those who died alone and the people dying now- thousands each week. The hundreds of thousands in hospital right now fighting for their lives. Those suffering from
#LongCOVID
struggling each and every day….
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Protecting yourself by seeking the very thing that harms you is extremely dangerous.
Even if you don’t get severely ill with COVID-19 and die, you could pass it on to someone who will. You could develop
#LongCovid
.
Stay responsible, stay safe.
@WHO
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We can end this pandemic together. We will end this pandemic together.
The fight is against the virus, not each other, and we are in this together.
We have public health and medical tools that prevent infections, reduce spread and save lives.
Let’s use them all.
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The legacy of
#COVID19
must be strengthened health systems, with agility to scale up and down, to protect communities and health workers, improve the air we breathe, to provide access to safe, reliable & affordable PPE, tests, treatments & vaccines to ALL people in ALL countries.
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I’m struggling with how best to stress how fragile the global situation is, so I’ll be blunt:
Each week >2.6 million cases and >53,000 deaths are reported to
@WHO
Reported, meaning that there are many others.
Stop and think about that.
(Short thread⬇️)
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Short 🧵
From limited number of countries reporting, there has been a 35% ⬆️ in
#COVID19
hospitalizations and ICU admission in the last month.
SARS-CoV-2, influenza and other respiratory pathogens continue to be on the rise. Take measures to protect yourself from infection.
Dr
@mvankerkhove
talks about the current surge in respiratory diseases
#COVID19
and JN.1 subvariant.
WHO continues to assess the situation. Follow WHO's public health advice to keep your families and friends safe during this holiday season.
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I know the world wants so desperately for the
#COVID19
pandemic to be over. I do too. But we aren’t done yet and this virus isn’t done with us yet. It is here to stay and we can do more to protect everyone, everywhere…
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To suggest that
#Omicron
will be the last variant is unwise…this virus is circulating at a very intense level around the 🌎 & it’s still evolving…
Absolutely critical we continue to track, monitor & assess variants,⬇️⬇️ transmission & ⬆️⬆️ vaccination coverage everywhere
@WHO
"We're hearing a lot of people suggest that
#Omicron
is the last variant & that it's over after this and that is not the case... This virus is circulating at a very intense level around the world," says
@WHO
's
@mvankerkhove
.
We must keep working to reduce
#COVID19
transmission.
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I’m worried we so badly want to move on that govts, many of whom have new leadership and have moved on, will forget the overflowing hospitals, the tents in parking lots for the sick, refrigerated trucks serving as morgues, burial grounds, fire pyres, exhausted health workers…
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If Omicron is less severe, why are COVID-19 deaths rising? | World Economic Forum
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Please keep perspective. We have a new VOC Omicron, but do not forget that VOC Delta is dominant worldwide & people are drying unnecessarily because we do not have
#VaccinEquity
We must ⬆️ vaccination among those most at risk in all countries & drive ⬇️ transmission everywhere.
The Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution met today to review what is known about the
#COVID19
variant B.1.1.529.
They advised WHO that it should be designated a Variant of Concern.
WHO has named it Omicron, in line with naming protocols
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Yes, oversimplified narratives can be dangerous. While we see lower risk of hospitalisation compared to Delta, to suggest that Omicron is “just a mild” disease is dangerous.
Case # are astounding… even with lower risk, we will see hospitals overwhelmed. Please be careful.
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Pls don’t panic & be assured that scientists from around the world are hard working on Delta & Omicron. We will share info as soon as it’s available.
You as individuals have control to keep yourself safe. Take steps today and everyday to lower your risk from
#COVID19
@WHO
Please keep perspective. We have a new VOC Omicron, but do not forget that VOC Delta is dominant worldwide & people are drying unnecessarily because we do not have
#VaccinEquity
We must ⬆️ vaccination among those most at risk in all countries & drive ⬇️ transmission everywhere.
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.
@WHO
continues to urge Member States to maintain, not dismantle, established
#COVID19
infrastructure: sustain surveillance & reporting, variant tracking, early clinical care provision, vaccine boosters to high-risk groups, ventilation improvements, communication, etc…
Governments need to sustain critical actions to prevent infection (self test, ventilate, mask, etc), early detection w/ clinical care, vax/boosting those most at risk, sequencing to track variants and strong surveillance with continued reporting to
@WHO
⬇️
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Please take care,
#COVID19
has not gone away. We must remain vigilant and do more to prevent infections, severe disease,
#LongCOVID
and deaths.
Play your part, live your lives. Your life is precious.
@WHO
@DrTedros
@DrMikeRyan
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New Disease Outbreak News from
@WHO
:
Acute hepatitis of unknown aetiology – the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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…This also results in too many deaths (4% ⬆️ from last week globally), more
#LongCOVID
, more health worker burnout, further inequities in access and care…
…and this risks more variants emerging that are more transmissible, may be more severe, may have more immune escape…
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I’m worried that too many think
#COVID19
is not something to worry about, that they need a new variant with a Greek letter to take this virus seriously. When we need to assign a Greek letter, we will not hesitate.
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The
#COVID19
situation globally is very dangerous with high levels of transmission driven by 4️⃣ major factors:
1️⃣ virus variants
2️⃣ increased social mixing and mobility of people
3️⃣ inappropriate use of public health & social measures
4️⃣ vaccine inequity
- Dr
@mvankerkhove
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@WHO
reviews all available evidence & has healthy, constructive debates w/ our global expert networks on clinical management, virology & lab, IPC, epi, modelling, etc. to develop technical guidance for
#COVID19
I described how we do this recently 👇
#ProudToBeWHO
#ScienceRocks
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How do we live in a world where this is enabled, accepted, tolerated?
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.
#COVID19
is not gone.
The virus continues to evolve & more variants will emerge.
We need better surveillance to track known & detect new variants.
@WHO
will analyse & assess each.
We have tools to prevent infections, severe disease and deaths.
There is more work to do ⬇️
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It’s marked by co-circulation of many other pathogens eg flu, mycoplasma, RSV, etc.
Cases and hospitalisations for
#COVID19
have been on the rise for months. Hospitals in many countries are burdened and overwhelmed from COVID and other pathogens, and deaths are on the rise.
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Does anyone else draft tweets and not hit “tweet”?
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An absolute pleasure to discuss progress on this tool developed by
@CERN
&
@WHO
with a wide range of incredible diverse experts from around the world to better understand and assess the risk of indoor airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in indoor spaces⬇️
Last week had the pleasure to welcome
@DrMariaNeira
@mvankerkhove
@drmichelyao1
@alicesim
et al to
@CERN
. We discussed the status of our collab on
#CAiMIRA
/ARIA & ways to expand the application to other indoor health risks (e.g. indoor pollution). Great project, great colleagues
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There is a lot you can do to keep you and your loved ones safe from
#COVID19
.
Please be safe & live your life. Get vaccinated/boosted (esp older people), wear a mask when around others indoors, ventilate, stay home if unwell.
Be kind to yourself and others. We can do this.
@WHO
The virus that causes
#COVID19
is circulating intensely around the world.
Here is what you need to know to protect yourself and live your life.
Get vaccinated and boosted,😷mask, ventilate, distance, clean hands.
-Dr
@mvankerkhove
👇
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More details on
#COVID19
@WHO
⬇️
While the emergency is over, COVID is not. The virus is evolving, there will be more waves of infection. We need to continue to prevent infections, severe disease,
#LongCOVID
, deaths.
Sustain momentum in all pillars of the response. Vigilance.
LIVE Q&A on ending
#COVID19
as a global health emergency with
@DrMikeRyan
and Dr
@mvankerkhove
.
#AskWHO
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I’m actually struck by how many people are wearing masks inappropriately… wearing a mask under your nose, below your chin, off your ear is useless…
Please wear a well fitted, well made mask over your nose and mouth. Please.
"I'm struck by how people actually are wearing masks.
Wearing a mask below your nose, off of your ear, under your chin... is useless. And it gives you a false sense of security that you have something on that is protecting you and it will not," says
@WHO
's
@mvankerkhove
today.
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🆕
@WHO
TAG-VE Risk Evaluation of JN.1
Due to its rapidly increasing spread, WHO is classifying JN.1 as a separate variant of interest (VOI) from the parent lineage BA.2.86. It was previously classified as VOI as part of BA.2.86 sublineages.
Short 🧵
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Reality check👇
#COVID19
deaths globally are at a similar level to March 2020. While deaths are now much lower than they have been at their peaks over the last 2.5 yrs, we must remember that in 3/20, we knew very little about this virus & we had no treatments & no vaccines
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🙏
@CIDRAP
for covering this
Just wanted to highlight that universal masking in health facilities is not a new
@WHO
rec for
#COVID19
(this has been our rec for years). In our notice, we provided a reminder of WHO’s numerous comprehensive recs to prevent infections & save lives.
WHO designates JN.1 as separate COVID-19 variant of interest
As part of its announcement today, the WHO recommended universal masking for health facilities and protection for health workers.
Photo: PAHO/Flickr cc
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A sad, hard lesson that many of us have been trying to “teach” since the beginning of this pandemic…
The fundamental lesson of Delta isn’t the need for boosters, it’s the need for a multilayered approach not relying only on vaccines.
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These memories -still fresh- need to fuel & finance better health systems, equity, pandemic preparedness for current (
#COVID19
) & future threats IN THE CONTEXT of all of our other challenges of war, displacement, climate change. We have to do better. It’s hard.
#PandemicAccord
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🆕
@WHO
Disease Outbreak News: Multi-Country – Acute, severe hepatitis of unknown origin in children
As of 21 April, 169 cases (aged 1 month to 16 years old) reported in 🇬🇧 🇪🇸 🇮🇱 🇺🇸 🇩🇰 🇮🇪 🇳🇱 🇮🇹 🇳🇴 🇫🇷 🇷🇴 🇧🇪. More info 👇
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Governments: reinforce surveillance, testing, sequencing, access to treatments & O2, vaccinate all at risk, surge capacities and PPE, invest in ventilation & in a strong protected work force. Ensure policies are agile to deal with epi, capacities & financial needs…
2/
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🧵Along with
#COVID19
, mycoplasma pneumonia, rinovirus, influenza & other respiratory diseases are rampant around the world.
Some countries are reporting increasing hospital admissions, with older people at particular risk & health workers burdened.
Governments have an…
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I wonder how much time has been wasted on discussing the new
#COVID19
variant name Omicron, when everyone could have been using that time to be more focused on saving lives and ending this pandemic?
Let’s keep our eye on the end game here. We can do this.
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The
#COVID19
pandemic was not normal. It didn’t have to be this bad… and this wasn’t even the worst pandemic we need to prepare for.
So let’s talk the positive and the future because, while I’m worried, I’m also hopeful and optimistic.
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.
#COVID19
is still a global threat & we can’t wish it away
What to do: Limit your exposure as much as you can. Test, mask, ventilate, get boosted/vaccinated…
If you get (re)infected: limit contact with others, mask, ventilate to prevent onward spread; seek medical care…
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To ensure we have comprehensive surveillance & sequencing systems that allow robust risk assessment to inform & empower people with good info. To protect & advance science. To support scientists & innovation & accept that as we learn, we change, we adjust, we course correct.
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Please take care.
#COVID19
, flu, RSV & other pathogens are circulating at very high rates right now. Use all available tools to keep you & your loved ones safe: vaccinate,mask,distance,ventilate,self test, stay home if unwell,clean hands… know your risk, lower your risk.
Circulation of
#COVID19
is high & all countries need to:
➡️Absorb & care for patients
➡️Adjust strategies to reduce spread &
➡️Accelerate access & use of life saving tools to save lives now & prevent
#LongCovid
Critical to fully vaccinate people most at risk in ALL countries⬇️
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Every single scientist and public health professional I know wants nothing more than this pandemic to end.
And we are working to the best of our abilities to end it.
I’ve heard lots of hot takes recently about how scientists are “basking in the limelight” and “don’t want the pandemic to end”.
None of the scientists I know are enjoying the pandemic.
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I’ll add one line they forgot to include:
Vaccines AND, not vaccines only. -
@WHO
Europe is learning a crucial lesson -- vaccines work, but they alone won't stop Covid now -
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