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-19: WHO working on supply pipeline for protective equipment and tests
For the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak began last December, China has reported no domestic cases of the disease, the head of the UN World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Thursday, calling it “an amazing achievement”.
UN, an ‘ally’ in Kenya in fight against COVID-19: a UN Resident Coordinator blog
The United Nations is working closely with the Kenyan Government to help prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus or COVID-19. By Siddharth Chatterjee, United Nations Resident Coordinator to Kenya.
Preventing discrimination against people with disabilities in COVID-19 response
Unless Governments and communities take action, discrimination against people with disabilities could increase during the COVID-19 pandemic, an expert with the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned.
‘Solidarity, hope’ and coordinated global response needed to tackle COVID-19 pandemic, says UN chief
As public fear and uncertainty grow around the COVID-19 pandemic, “more than ever before, we need solidarity, hope and the political will to see this crisis through together,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Thursday in his first virtual press conference.
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.