*COVID-19 Emergency Committee highlights importance of sustained community, national, regional, global response efforts

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

Against the backdrop of the continued damaging impacts of the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on individuals, organisations, businesses and economies across the world, the Emergency Committee on COVID-19, convened by the Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR), held its fourth meeting July 31.

The United Nations (UN) health body, in a statement dated August 1, and made available to 绿帽献妻, expressed 鈥渁ppreciation for WHO and partners鈥� COVID-19 pandemic response efforts, and highlighted the anticipated lengthy duration of this COVID-19 pandemic.

It equally noted 鈥渢he importance of sustained community, national, regional, and global response efforts.鈥�

According to WHO, the Committee unanimously agreed that Coronavirus outbreak still constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) and offered this advice to Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO.

Dr. Tedros accepted the advice of the Committee and confirmed that the outbreak of COVID-19 continues to constitute a PHEIC around the world.

The statement noted that the Director-General had declared a PHEIC鈥擶HO鈥檚 highest level of alarm under IHR鈥擩anuary 30, 2020, at a time when there were fewer than 100 cases and no deaths outside China.

He issued the Committee鈥檚 advice to States Parties as Temporary Recommendations under the IHR.

In his opening remarks to the COVID-19 Emergency Committee Friday, July 31, the WHO chief stated: 鈥淭he pandemic is a once-in-a-century health crisis, the effects of which will be felt for decades to come.

鈥淢any countries that believed they were past the worst are now grappling with new outbreaks.

鈥淪ome that were less affected in the earliest weeks are now seeing escalating numbers of cases and deaths. And some that had large outbreaks have brought them under control.鈥�

However, in its range of recommendations to both WHO and State Parties, the Committee advised WHO to continue to mobilise global and regional multilateral organisations and partners for COVID-19 preparedness and response.

This is with a view to supporting Member States in maintaining health services, while accelerating the research and eventual access to diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines, said the statement.

The Committee further urged countries to support these research efforts, including through funding, and to join in efforts at allowing equitable allocation of diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines by engaging in the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator among other initiatives.

Countries are also advised to strengthen public health surveillance for case identification and contact tracing, including in low-resource, vulnerable, or high-risk settings, while maintaining essential health services with sufficient funding, supplies, and human resources.

It as well urged countries to implement proportionate measures and advice on travel, based on risk assessments, and to review these measures regularly.

The Emergency Committee will be reconvened, again, within three months or earlier, at the discretion of the Director-General of the World Health Organisation, added the statement.

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