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
COVID contributed to 69,000 malaria deaths WHO finds, though ‘doomsday scenario’ averted
Disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in considerable increases in malaria cases and deaths between 2019 and 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday.
Omicron: Don't panic but prepare for likely spread, says WHO
As scientists continue to investigate the Omicron COVID-19 variant, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday urged countries not to panic but to prepare for its likely spread.
Omicron COVID variant underlines need for global ‘pandemic treaty’
The emergence of the threatening new Omicron variant shows how important it is for the world to end the current “cycle of panic and neglect” over the COVID-19 pandemic, said the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday.
Still ‘not clear’ whether Omicron COVID variant is more transmissible or more severe than Delta: WHO
The World Health Organization published on Sunday an update on the science regarding the new coronavirus variant Omicron which is causing global concern and sparking increasing flight bans on Southern African countries.
COVID-19 pandemic brings global syringe shortage into sharp focus
Efforts to boost COVID-19 vaccine production should be matched by access to the syringes needed to inject them - and there could even be a global shortage of needles for regular immunization campaigns next year - the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.
UN health agency issues definition of post COVID-19 condition to aid treatment
The first official clinical definition of living with “post COVID” sickness, has been agreed upon following global consultation and released to help boost treatment for sufferers, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.
UN Catch-Up Dateline Geneva – Afghanistan update, global dementia alert, COVID in Africa
In this week's show, an appeal for Afghanistan’s neighbours to keep their borders open after the Taliban takeover; an interview with a migration expert from UN Children’s Fund UNICEF, on the Afghan boys and girls risking everything to flee the country, and an alert over far-too-low COVID-19 vaccination rates across Africa.
COVID-19: New Mu variant could be more vaccine-resistant
A new coronavirus “variant of interest” named Mu – also known by its scientific name as B.1.621 – is being closely monitored by the World Health Organization (WHO), the agency has said.
UN health agency urges support for new COVID-19 origins studies
The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged all countries “to put differences aside” in order to speed up efforts to understand where and how the COVID-19 virus started – including the unproven suggestion that it was manufactured in a laboratory.
UN Catch-Up Dateline Geneva – Ultrarunner Fernanda Maciel talks World Humanitarian Day
In this week’s show, an inspiring encounter with an ultrarunner who’s moving mountains to save the climate – or at least running up and down them; a report on rights abuses in Central African Republic during the country’s elections, latest data on global refugee resettlement numbers, a good news update on coronavirus vaccine shipments bound for Africa, and a call for accountability for the people of Lebanon.