This page brings together information and guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations regarding the current outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that was first reported in Wuhan, China, on 31 December 2019. Please visit this page for daily updates. WHO is working closely with global experts, governments and partners to rapidly expand scientific knowledge on this new virus, to track the spread and virulence of the virus, and to provide advice to countries and individuals on measures to protect health and prevent the spread of this outbreak.
Coronavirus global health emergency: Coverage from UN News
Still ‘early days’ to assess COVID-19 impact on women, children – UNICEF official
Shortly after the outbreak of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19), UNICEF was among the first United Nations agencies to step up and deliver much-needed medical supplies including masks to China.
UN health chief announces global ‘solidarity trial’ to jumpstart search for COVID-19 treatment
Just 60 days after the genetic sequence of COVID-19 was shared by China, the first vaccine trial has begun, the UN health chief said on Wednesday, calling it “an incredible achievement” and urging the world to maintain “the same spirit of solidarity” that has helped fight Ebola.
FROM THE FIELD: Surviving a coronavirus scare in China
A young woman who works as an intern for the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in China has been talking about the anxiety she faced after being hospitalized for several days with a suspected case of coronavirus or COVID-19.
‘Societies are healthier if everybody's healthier’: IOM spokesperson
The UN migration agency, IOM, is highly concerned about the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic is having on migrants.
In an interview with UN News, spokesperson Joel Millman said that many migrants work in the food industry, highly affected by the closures of restaurants and cafes.
Mr. Millman started by insisting that the stigmatization of migrants must be avoided.
Treat migrants with dignity and respect during pandemic: UN migration agency
The importance of treating migrants with dignity and respect has not changed, UN migration agency (IOM), spokesperson Joel Millman has told UN News, adding that the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on migrants, highly represented in the food industry, which is now seeing widespread shutdowns, is ‘a huge concern’ to the agency.
UN agriculture agency staff continue to strive for a better world amid Italy COVID-19 lockdown
Italy has been hit hard by the COVID-19 outbreak, with nearly 28,000 confirmed cases of the disease and 2,503 deaths, according to latest statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO). While a national quarantine has the country in lockdown, it has not halted the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), based in the capital, Rome.
Swift policy action, strong leadership can save millions of jobs, ‘avert the worst’ amid COVID-19 pandemic
As dire forecasts about the global economy add to the anxiety surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN’s labour agency (ILO) on Thursday offered a range of urgent measures, which, if governments act quickly, can help to protect workers in the workplace, stimulate the economy and save millions of jobs.
Still ‘early days’ to assess COVID-19 impact on children: UNICEF
Shortly after the outbreak of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19), UNICEF was among the first United Nations agencies to step up and deliver much-needed medical supplies including masks to China.
UN News spoke to Ms. Luwei Pearson, Acting Director of UNICEF’s Health Programme Division, about the agency’s quick response to the outbreak, and other issues including the possible physical and mental impact on millions of children faced with school closures.
UN News’s Maoqi Li spoke to Ms. Luwei Pearson, via skype.