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
First Person: Panic as COVID-19 ‘tsunami’ hits India
A UN staff member in India has described the huge upsurge in COVID-19 infections in her country in recent days as a “tsunami”, and has spoken of the “panic” she felt, as her immediate family became infected with the virus.
UN providing equipment and supplies to help India fight rapid COVID-19 surge
The United Nations is supporting India as the country battles a major surge in COVID-19 cases which on Wednesday saw the overall reported death toll top 201,000, according to latest World Health Organization (WHO) figures. Confirmed cases stand at just under 18 million nationwide.
Pandemic cannot become a ‘media extinction event’: UN Secretary-General
The financial decline of many public interest media organizations worldwide has been among the dangerous side-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Secretary-General António Guterres said on Wednesday in remarks to a UN-backed event to boost support for the sector.
COVID-19 cases rise for ninth consecutive week, variants continue spreading
COVID-19 infections have increased for the ninth consecutive week globally while variants continue their spread, the UN health agency has confirmed.
New UN-led global immunization push aims to save more than 50 million lives
A UN-led global immunization strategy was unveiled on Monday to reach more than 50 million children who have missed lifesaving jabs against diseases such as measles, yellow fever and diptheria, in large part because of COVID-19 disruption.
Prioritize people and planet, UN chief urges Asian and Pacific nations
The UN Secretary-General on Monday called on Asian and Pacific countries not to base their pandemic recovery strategies on “outdated and unsustainable economic models”, and to ensure that the world’s most populous region protects its environment and provides opportunities for all.
Iraq: UN representative calls for ‘stronger protection measures’ after fatal fire in COVID hospital
The UN Special Representative in Iraq expressed “shock and pain” on Sunday over a deadly accident that befell a COVID-19 hospital in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq.
ACT now to speed up funding for COVID-19 tools, UN officials say
Although a landmark global collaboration has developed and delivered COVID-19 vaccines and diagnostics worldwide, critical funding shortfalls remain, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a report published on Friday.
90 percent of countries’ health services continue to be disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic: WHO
Over one year into the COVID-19 pandemic and 90% of countries are still reporting one or more disruptions to essential health services. The findings of the second World Health Organization (WHO) “pulse survey” reveal that no substantial global change has been made since the first survey was conducted in the summer of 2020.
Syria receives first COVID-19 vaccines, for most vulnerable
More than 250,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Syria on Thursday from the UN-backed COVAX initiative, to inoculate the country’s frontline health workers.