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Coronavirus global health emergency: Coverage from UN News

Coronavirus global health emergency: Coverage from UN News
The outbreak was first reported in Wuhan, China, on 31 December 2019

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.

A wide range of human rights activists have been targeted in Colombia, especially those living in rural areas.
UN Colombia

Colombia: Security Council hears of ‘epidemic of violence’ against civil society and ex-combatants

While political actors in Colombia are uniting to confront COVID-19, they must also work together to fight “the epidemic of violence” against civil society leaders, human rights defenders and former combatants, the head of the UN mission in the country said on Tuesday during a Security Council meeting held by videoconference.

Mr. Imran Riza UN Resident Coordinator in Syria visiting a national lab for COVID19 testing, in Damascus.
UNICEF Syria

Syria coronavirus threat sparks broad UN containment effort

The United Nations and its partners are doing their utmost to support a comprehensive, multi-pronged effort to stem the impact of COVID-19 in Syria, where the viral disease has claimed the lives of two people, sickened 23 others and presented epic challenges for ensuring the smooth delivery of life-saving assistance.

A view of a pharmacy through protective plastic in Astoria, Queens, during the COVID-19 outbreak in New York City.
UN Photo/Evan Schneider

COVID-19: Growth forecast at -3 per cent, as IMF offers debt relief to most vulnerable nations in Africa, Asia, Middle East and Caribbean

Forecasting the “worst economic downturn since the Great Depression”, the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday that growth for the year was likely to end up at minus three per cent, with a dramatic change evident since the last World Economic Outlook report in January.  

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Villagers in South Sudan learn about the dangers of coronavirus from a UNICEF partner organization.
© UNICEF/Brian Ongoro

FROM THE FIELD: The UN’s global fight against COVID-19

A global effort is needed now and in the months ahead, to fight the coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic, according to the United Nations, and the organization is demonstrating how cooperation in all corners of the world is helping lessen the effects of the virus on the most vulnerable.

2020-04-14-UNESCO_moez-chackchouk.jpg

Spreading the word, stopping the virus

Making sure that information about COVID-19 is accurate, and how to stay protected, is crucial to getting the pandemic under control.
UNESCO, the UN agency responsible for science and education, has a key role in combating the widespread disinformation that is spreading around the world, and promoting the facts.
Conor Lennon from UN News spoke to Moez Chackchouk, Assistant Director-General of UNESCO, and started by asked him how to describe the scale of the so-called “disinfodemic”
 

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Hazem Balousha

COVID-19 in Gaza: even in refugee camps, people asked to stay ‘home’

Even in the overcrowded places like refugee camps, the UN is working towards potentially life-saving behavior change, asking people to stay ‘home’, because social distancing will mean at least some “family protection”.

Referring to the low number of cases in Gaza so far as “good news”, Matthias Schmale, director of the UN relief agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) has warned in an interview with UN News, that local hospitals would not have the capacity to deal with coronavirus and there are not enough tests to go round.

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