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Statement by WHO's Regional Director on maintaining routine influenza surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic
13 July 2020 – Influenza surveillance systems in the Eastern Mediterranean Region have proven to be invaluable in supporting the detection of suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19. Within the existing influenza surveillance systems, health workers collect samples from patients seeking treatment for influenza-like illnesses and severe acute...
Africa records over 500 000 COVID-19 cases
Brazzaville/Cairo, 8 July 2020 – COVID-19 infections in Africa today surpassed 500 000, and there is concern as a growing number of countries are experiencing a sharp rise in cases. So far, in less than 5 months, the virus has claimed 11 959 lives, overtaking the 11 308 lives lost in the world’s worst Ebola outbreak in West Africa between 2014 and...
COVID-19 presents opportunities for greater collaboration on the SDGS, says WHO’s Regional Director
8 July 2020 – At a recent webinar on the Region’s response to COVID-19, organized by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and WHO, the WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari said that the COVID-19 pandemic had presented an opportunity for greater collaboration between all sectors to work...
Statement by WHO Regional Director Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari on COVID-19
Yesterday, 30 June marked six months since WHO received the first reports of a cluster of cases of pneumonia of unknown cause in China The six-month mark of the outbreak coincides with reaching 10 million cases and 500,000 deaths world-wide. Although many countries have made some progress, globally the pandemic is speeding up. A few days ago, our...
Joining forces to manage the ‘infodemic’
29 June 2020 – In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the phenomenon of an ‘infodemic’ has escalated to a level that requires a coordinated response. As WHO’s Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, warned the world of this threat of an ‘infodemic’, it is getting harder for people to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance...
Over one million COVID-19 cases reported in WHO's Eastern Mediterranean Region
Cairo, 28 June 2020 – The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed more than one million cases of COVID-19 in the 22 countries of WHO's Eastern Mediterranean Region. As of 11:00 today, 1 025 478 cases and 23 461 deaths have been recorded from the Region, which spans from Morocco to Pakistan. While cases in Europe have been largely declining,...
Saudi Arabia limits number of pilgrims taking part in this year's hajj
28 June 2020 – The Government of Saudi Arabia has announced that this year's hajj will proceed with a limited number of pilgrims of different nationalities residing within the country. This decision was made based on a risk assessment and analysis of different scenarios in line with WHO guidelines for mass gatherings in the context of COVID-19 to...
EU, WHO to strengthen Sudan’s COVID-19 response and health system
The European Union Commissioner for Crisis Management, the Federal Minister of Health, and acting WHO Representative, during the signing ceremony Khartoum, 24 June 2020 — The World Health Organization welcomes a generous contribution of 11.5 million Euros from the European Union to fight COVID-19 in Sudan and improve the country’s overall health...
Statement by WHO Regional Director Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari on COVID-19
20 June 2020 – Almost 6 months into our response to COVID-19, we continue to learn many things about this new disease. With millions of cases now reported, we have a wide body of research to draw from—which is both a blessing and a challenge. Sifting through case studies, evaluating data, and revising earlier recommendations is part of that...
UN and partners launch guidelines to address the needs of most vulnerable groups during COVID-19
Download Cairo, 15 June 2020 - Vulnerable groups, particularly women, displaced people, migrants, older persons and people with disabilities, may experience the most harmful impacts of COVID-19. This is due to many factors including discrimination and stigma, their exclusion from effective surveillance and early-warning systems as well as their...
