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
Tough times for tourism, but UN travel organization predicts holiday traffic will return
Tourism may have been brought to a near-standstill by COVID-19, but the industry – which accounts for 10 per cent of global GDP – finds itself in a unique position to help put the global economy back on its feet, once the pandemic has passed.
Lady Gaga promises star-studded ‘love letter to the world’ amidst global pain of COVID-19 pandemic
This weekend’s “One World: Together At Home” virtual global special will be a “love letter to the world” and a salute to health workers on the front lines of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, pop superstar Lady Gaga said on Friday.
COVID-19: Rights experts highlight LGBTI discrimination, antisemitism
New guidance from the UN human rights office, issued on Friday, sets out key actions to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people against discrimination during the COVID-19 pandemic.
US must improve COVID-19 strategy to keep tens of millions from falling into poverty, urges rights expert
The United States must take urgent additional steps to prevent tens of millions of middle-class Americans hit by the COVID-19 pandemic from being “plunged into poverty”, according to an independent UN human rights expert.
Ceasefire during COVID-19 pandemic essential, to safeguard 250 million children
The head of the UN children’s fund UNICEF warned on Friday that 250 million children around the world living in the “waking nightmare” of conflict desperately need warring parties to stop fighting as the COVID-19 pandemic spreads.
PODCAST: ‘Entrepreneurs of intolerance’ compound COVID-19 racist backlash
In this special edition of our Lid Is On podcast, from UN News, we hear from independent UN human rights expert, Tendayi Achiume, who warns that apart from the coronavirus that’s destroying so many lives and transforming societies around the world, a virulent xenophobia and tide of racial hatred has also been unleashed, aided by what she calls “entrepreneurs of intolerance”.
Music credit: Ketsa: “Within the Earth”, and “Awaiting Her Return”