Health Emergencies Newsletter, Issue 112

WHO's work with countries on disease outbreaks and health emergencies, including the global response to COVID-19; and collaboration with partners. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

No images? Click here Global leaders call for international pandemic treaty Twenty-five governments and international agencies call for a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach to strengthen national and global capacities to prepare for future pandemics. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros said, “The world cannot afford to wait until the pandemic is over to start planning for the next one. This treaty is an opportunity to strengthen the international health architecture. The time to act is now.” Related WHO, Germany launch new global hub for pandemic and epidemic intelligence WHO and Germany will establish a new global hub for pandemic and epidemic intelligence, data, surveillance and analytics innovation. Working with partners around the world, it will lead innovations in analytics across the largest network of global data to detect and monitor pandemic and epidemic risks   How COVAX is working to make vaccine equity a reality Everyone, everywhere can do their part in helping vaccinate the world and end the COVID-19 pandemic.     World Health Assembly to focus on ending COVID-19; preparing for future emergencies As COVID-19 threatens the health and well-being of everyone on the planet, this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) stresses the urgency of ending the current pandemic and preventing the next one by building a healthier, safer and fairer world.   Responding to the surge in COVID-19 cases in India WHO has been providing critical equipment and supplies to meet the increased needs during the current surge. In addition to surveillance, rapid situational analysis and technical advice, WHO continues to support efforts to accelerate vaccination for COVID-19.   COVID-19 stories Driving #VaccinEquity in Nepal “Even as a small child, I have always wanted to do something for society.” Meet Laxmi, the first woman driver and part of the Emergency Team in WHO Nepal Office, who is helping prepare local hospitals for COVID-19 vaccination in remote areas.   Philippines  WHO strengthens support to contact tracing to break chains of transmission WHO supports the national government with the Contact Tracing Handbook for more than 1,700 local units to enhance their surveillance systems and response strategies, ensure an efficient and effective system for limiting the spread of COVID-19, and train health workers in contact tracing. Comoros  Health workers support COVID-19 vaccination "I got vaccinated to set an example," said President Azali Assoumani, calling on his compatriots to respond to the vaccination campaign. With WHO’s guidance, the country began to vaccinate by priority groupings: all categories of health workers, followed by teachers, military and paramilitary forces, the elderly, and those with co-morbidities. Honduras | ES Risk communication, community participation in the indigenous communities WHO carried out training sessions in five municipalities of the Tolupán indigenous population, on prevention and control of communicable diseases, strengthening the capacities of institutional health teams, application of safety measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 and other diseases; and information on leptospirosis, vector diseases, prevention of diarrhea and safe water consumption. Somalia  WHO, UNICEF and partners improve vaccination coverage against COVID-19, vaccine-preventable diseases Since resuming mass vaccination campaigns, which paused in 2020 due to the pandemic, Somalia with support from WHO, UNICEF and other partners have vaccinated approximately 3 million children; along with one of its largest, much-needed vaccination campaigns against COVID-19.   A virus that respects no borders: protecting refugees and migrants during COVID-19 With more people forced to flee their homes as a result of conflict, instability, and natural disaster, WHO has been working to ensure that migrant and refugee health is incorporated into global health responses in countries. Related: WHO survey that shows everyday experience of migrants during the pandemic. In Bangladesh, WHO is strengthening Cox’s Bazar referral pathway for emergency medical and life-saving interventions for Rohingya refugees; and supporting COVID-19 treatment centers inside and outside the refugee camps. Support the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, and help the global efforts to fight COVID-19 and protect many lives -- especially vulnerable populations around the world. The Fund is the fastest and most effective way for individuals, companies, and organisations to support the work of WHO and its many partners in battling COVID-19 in communities.   Other health emergencies Democratic Republic of the Congo WHO congratulates the DRC for the end of the 12th Ebola outbreak WHO Director-General Dr Tedros congratulated the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the end of the 12th Ebola outbreak which started in North Kivu in February, coming from nine months since an earlier outbreak was declared over in the same province. Dr Tedros stressed the need for continued vigilance to prevent a return of the disease and in containing other health challenges. Libya WHO supports evaluation of EWARN system to identify gaps and challenges in performance WHO supports Libya’s evaluation of the Early Warning Alert and Response Network (EWARN), which is a real-time surveillance modelling system to detect and verify potential disease outbreaks caused by emerging and epidemic-prone diseases. The evaluation assessed the effectiveness and usefulness of EWARN to meet its objectives, rapid response team capacity, and operations. Guinea An imam in the fight against Ebola “Four of my brothers and cousins died of Ebola in 2015, so I know what I’m committing myself to,” says imam El hadj Moussa Soumahoro, as his congregation disperses while greeting each other from a distance. He has just ended a morning sermon that included Ebola preventive messages and the importance of vaccination against the virus that recently re-emerged in Guinea for the first time since the 2014-2016 outbreak. Related: Ebola: how Guinea is responding to the epidemic   Nepal, Burundi WHO hands over five Health Emergency Operation Centers WHO turned over Health Emergency Operation Centers to Nepal to strengthen the communication and coordination for effective public health response, especially during unpredictable emergencies. Another EOC was also inaugurated in Burundi recently. Sudan Vaccination against yellow fever among Ethiopian refugees and host communities WHO, UNICEF and GAVI have supported health authorities in Sudan in vaccination campaigns against yellow fever, cholera and polio targeting 100 000 people; including host communities and Ethiopian refugees who fled the conflict in the Tigray region. Community volunteers have also raised awareness of yellow fever and cholera symptoms, transmission, and preventive measures.   Highlights on donors, partners, and key supporters   Continuing the fight: WHO donors and partners support COVID-19 response around the world COVID-19 vaccination campaigns have now been rolled out in over 100 countries and are providing hope. But the pandemic continues, and much essential work remains to be done. We highlight a recent selection of WHO’s activities in regions and countries around the world with the support of Gavi, ECHO, Canada, USAID and many other key partners. Related story here. Greta Thunberg joins WHO’s call for vaccine equity Greta Thunberg, climate and environment activist, has joined WHO in urging countries and manufacturers to boost and share COVID-19 vaccine supplies globally. Through the Greta Thunberg Foundation, she donated €100,000 (US$ 120,000) to the WHO Foundation to support COVAX Facility, in an effort to ensure equitable access of vaccines to the most at-risk in all countries.   The ACT-Accelerator one year on The Access for COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator marks its first anniversary with a special report on the global alliance’s progress against the pandemic. The report details major scientific advances that have been made to confront this new disease, along with historic collaboration of global health organisations, governments, foundations, civil society, scientists, and the private sector. Related: Carl Bildt, former Prime Minister of Sweden, appointed WHO Special Envoy for ACT-Accelerator COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund marks first anniversary and appeals for continued support Putting the focus on health: the Health For All Film Festival On its second year now, WHO's ‘Health for All’ Film Festival received nearly 1,200 submissions from 110 countries, covering themes around universal health coverage (UHC), health emergencies, better health and well-being, and the pervasive and universal consequences the COVID-19 pandemic to people’s lives. See the final selection and the winners here.   Subscribe to WHO's Health Emergencies Newsletter. Send feedback to WHO Emergency Communications team.       Share    Tweet    Share    Forward  World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, 1202 Geneva 27, Switzerland  You received this email because you subscribed. Preferences  |  Unsubscribe

This message includes updates on the COVID-19 response from CDC. This is a rapidly evolving situation and information will be updated as it becomes available.

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May 17, 2021 This message includes updates on the COVID-19 response from CDC. The COVID-19 Outbreak is a rapidly evolving situation and information will be updated as it becomes available.

When You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated If you are fully vaccinated, you can resume activities that you did before the pandemic without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations. That includes local business and workplace guidance. You will still be required to wear a mask on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States, and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations. You should still watch out for symptoms of COVID-19, especially if you’ve been around someone who is sick. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should get tested and stay home and away from others.

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Text on illustration Bobby and his dad are protected when they stay home. They keep protecting themselves when they are outside of their house. Be like Bobby and his dad stay 6 feet apart, wash your hands, wear a mask and avoid crowds.

Guidance for Unvaccinated People If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth to help protect yourself and others. Masks should be worn in addition to staying at least 6 feet apart, especially around people who don’t live with you. Get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you can. Being in crowds makes you more likely to get or spread COVID-19, so avoid crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces. And wash your hands often with soap and water, or use hand sanitizer if soap and water aren’t available.

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Continued Use of COVID-19 Prevention Strategies in Schools CDC recommends schools continue to use the COVID-19 prevention strategies outlined in the current version of CDC’s Operational Strategy for K-12 Schools for at least the remainder of the 2020-2021 academic school year. Students will not be fully vaccinated by the end of the 2020-2021 school year. Children under 12 are not yet eligible for vaccination, while youth ages 12- 15 became eligible for vaccination on May 12, 2021. Because people are not fully vaccinated until 2 weeks after their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine, students in this age group will not be fully vaccinated before the end of current school year. Systems and policy adjustments may be required for schools to change mask requirements for students and staff while continuing to ensure the safety of unvaccinated populations. CDC will update its guidance for schools in the coming weeks. Updated guidance can inform school planning for the 2021-2022 academic year.

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COVID Data Tracker Weekly Review Vaccinating adolescents is an important step toward stopping the spread of COVID-19. On May 10, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for use in adolescents ages 12-15. In addition to preventing severe illness, COVID-19 vaccines will help adolescents safely return to doing the things they love. Read more in the COVID Data Tracker Weekly Review.

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Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the U.S.

May 17, 2021 US states, territories, and District of Columbia have reported 32,753,426 cases of COVID-19 in the United States. CDC provides updated U.S. case information online daily. In addition to cases, deaths, and laboratory testing, CDC’s COVID Data Tracker now has a Vaccinations tab to track distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in your state.

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