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.

Nickolay Mladenov, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority

UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

COVID-19: UN envoy hails strong Israel-Palestine cooperation

28 March 2020

Health

Nickolay Mladenov, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, has praised the coordination between the Israeli and Palestine authorities in reacting to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shopkeepers have shuttered their stores in old Delhi, India following the government's announcement of a nationwide lockdown for 21 days to stem the spread of COVID-19.

Sandeep Datta

Indians taking coronavirus lockdown seriously: senior UN official

28 March 2020

Interviews

The COVID-19 pandemic is not being taken lightly in India as people in the world’s second most populated country in the world are complying with a complete lockdown to prevent further spread of the disease.

That’s the opinion of Argentina Matavel Piccin, Representative for the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) in India.

UNFPA programmes support women and girls but during this time of crisis, the agency is also focusing on communications for health workers so that pregnant women and nursing mothers know how to protect themselves and their babies.

Lu Xiang, Deputy Director of Jiangsu Medical Mission to Huangshi, Hubei during the COVID-19.

Provided by Lu Xiang

First Person: Heartbreak and hope – one doctor’s story from China’s coronavirus ground zero

28 March 2020

Health

Xiang Lu is one of the thousands of Chinese doctors who was dispatched to fight the COVID-19 outbreak in the hardest-hit province of Hubei, as it reached its peak. When UN News spoke to him on 23 March, he said that the situation is vastly improved and he may, at last, be able to return home.

David Shearer, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan is interviewed on Radio Miraya by Lighthouse International Primary School student, Ayot Sandra Dominic. (June 2017)

UNMISS

Peacekeeping radio stations provide COVID-19 information to vulnerable communities in conflict-affected countries

27 March 2020

Health

UN Peacekeeping radio stations have in recent decades helped build support for peace process in a dozen countries around the world including Cambodia, Croatia, Namibia and Timor-Leste.

The President of the UN General Assembly, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, takes part in a remote briefing to UN Member States on the coronavirus crisis.

United Nations/Reem Abaza

Critical work of UN ‘largely uninterrupted’, despite unprecedented challenge of COVID-19

27 March 2020

UN Affairs

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the United Nations to operate in new ways, its vital work worldwide continues largely uninterrupted, heads of UN principal organs assured Member States, during a joint briefing on Friday held online.

People living in Lagos State in Nigeria, simulate sneezing into their elbows during a coronavirus prevention campaign.

UNFPA advocates for women, girls suffering unseen impacts of COVID-19 pandemic

27 March 2020

Women

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is pledging support for those suffering from invisible impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including women and girls whose access to life-saving sexual and reproductive health care may be disrupted.

A patient has recovered after efforts by Lu Xiang and his medical team dispatched from Jiangsu Province to Huangshi, Hubei due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Provided by Lu Xiang

Protect ‘healthcare heroes’ from COVID-19, urges UN rights expert

27 March 2020

Health

States and business leaders must step up efforts to ensure that the selfless doctors, nurses, first-responders and other medical professionals working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic receive adequate protective equipment, a UN rights expert said on Friday.

UN News/Daniel Johnson

The answer to overcoming COVID-19 is in our hands - not a vaccine – top WHO official

27 March 2020

Interviews

Amid rising numbers of COVID-19 infections and deaths, the World Health Organization (WHO) stressed on Friday that the solution to beating the pandemic lies in having clean hands, more than hopes for a speedy vaccine.

That’s not so easy in countries with poor access to clean water, as WHO’s Dr. Margaret Harris tells UN News’s Daniel Johnson, before providing an update on the human drug and crucial vaccine trials, now under way.

On Feb 26, a shipment of adult diapers donated by UNFPA arrived in Wuhan and was distributed to local hospitals.

UNFPA China

First Person: two months of COVID-19 confinement in Wuhan

27 March 2020

Health

Many countries have recently begun to introduce lockdown measures that have led to many citizens having to spend much, if not all, of their time at home. For those in Wuhan, China, where COVID-19 is believed to have originated, the period of self-isolation has lasted around two months. UN News spoke to Dizi*, a Wuhan resident, to find out how she has been coping. The interview has been translated.

The UN Secretary-General António Guterres was one of many participants in a virtual meeting of leaders from Group of Twenty (G-20) nations.

UN Photo/Evan Schneider

A sustainable global economy must arise once COVID-19 pandemic is reversed, UN chief tells G-20 summit

26 March 2020

Health

World leaders at the G-20 virtual summit held on Thursday committed to inject over $5 trillion into the global economy to counteract the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

WHO’s Advice For the general public

Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) advice for the public.

WHO

If you are healthy, you only need to wear a mask if you are taking care of a person with suspected 2019-nCoV infection.
Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing.
Masks are effective only when used in combination with frequent hand-cleaning with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
If you wear a mask, then you must know how to use it and dispose of it properly.

How to put on, use, take off and dispose of a mask

WHO

Before putting on a mask, clean hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
Cover mouth and nose with mask and make sure there are no gaps between your face and the mask.
Avoid touching the mask while using it; if you do, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
Replace the mask with a new one as soon as it is damp and do not re-use single-use masks.
To remove the mask: remove it from behind (do not touch the front of mask); discard immediately in a closed bin; clean hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.

Is it safe to receive a letter or a package from China?

Yes, it is safe. People receiving packages from China are not at risk of contracting the new coronavirus. From previous analysis, we know coronaviruses do not survive long on objects, such as letters or packages.

Can pets at home spread the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV)?

At present, there is no evidence that companion animals/pets such as dogs or cats can be infected with the new coronavirus. However, it is always a good idea to wash your hands with soap and water after contact with pets. This protects you against various common bacteria such as E.coli and Salmonella that can pass between pets and humans.

Do vaccines against pneumonia protect you against the new coronavirus?

No. Vaccines against pneumonia, such as pneumococcal vaccine and Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib) vaccine, do not provide protection against the new coronavirus.

The virus is so new and different that it needs its own vaccine. Researchers are trying to develop a vaccine against 2019-nCoV, and WHO is supporting their efforts.

Although these vaccines are not effective against 2019-nCoV, vaccination against respiratory illnesses is highly recommended to protect your health.

Can regularly rinsing your nose with saline help prevent infection with the new coronavirus?

No. There is no evidence that regularly rinsing the nose with saline has protected people from infection with the new coronavirus.

There is some limited evidence that regularly rinsing nose with saline can help people recover more quickly from the common cold. However, regularly rinsing the nose has not been shown to prevent respiratory infections.

Can gargling mouthwash protect you from infection with the new coronavirus?

No. There is no evidence that using mouthwash will protect you from infection with the new coronavirus.

Some brands or mouthwash can eliminate certain microbes for a few minutes in the saliva in your mouth. However, this does not mean they protect you from 2019-nCoV infection.

Can eating garlic help prevent infection with the new coronavirus?

Garlic is a healthy food that may have some antimicrobial properties. However, there is no evidence from the current outbreak that eating garlic has protected people from the new coronavirus.

Does putting on sesame oil block the new coronavirus from entering the body?

No. Sesame oil does not kill the new coronavirus. There are some chemical disinfectants that can kill the 2019-nCoV on surfaces. These include bleach/chlorine-based disinfectants, either solvents, 75% ethanol, peracetic acid and chloroform.

However, they have little or no impact on the virus if you put them on the skin or under your nose. It can even be dangerous to put these chemicals on your skin.

Does the new coronavirus affect older people, or are younger people also susceptible?

People of all ages can be infected by the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Older people, and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease) appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus.

WHO advises people of all ages to take steps to protect themselves from the virus, for example by following good hand hygiene and good respiratory hygiene.

Are antibiotics effective in preventing and treating the new coronavirus?

No, antibiotics do not work against viruses, only bacteria.

The new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is a virus and, therefore, antibiotics should not be used as a means of prevention or treatment.

However, if you are hospitalized for the 2019-nCoV, you may receive antibiotics because bacterial co-infection is possible.

Are there any specific medicines to prevent or treat the new coronavirus?

To date, there is no specific medicine recommended to prevent or treat the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

However, those infected with the virus should receive appropriate care to relieve and treat symptoms, and those with severe illness should receive optimized supportive care. Some specific treatments are under investigation, and will be tested through clinical trials. WHO is helping to accelerate research and development efforts with a range or partners.