Bosmana: Created page with "==March== ===1 March (87,024 cases)=== * UN releases US$15 million for COVID-19 response ===2 March (89,068 cases)=== * [https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/rapid..."

2020-06-09T10:11:48Z

Created page with "==March== ===1 March (87,024 cases)=== * UN releases US$15 million for COVID-19 response ===2 March (89,068 cases)=== * [https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/rapid..."

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==March==
===1 March (87,024 cases)===
* UN releases US$15 million for COVID-19 response

===2 March (89,068 cases)===
* [https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/rapid-risk-assessment-outbreak-novel-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-increased ECDC RRA COVID19] (#5)
** Immediate activation of national emergency response mechanisms and pandemic preparedness plans to ensure containment and mitigation of COVID-19 with non-pharmaceutical public health measures.
** Ensuring the general public is aware of the seriousness of COVID-19. A high degree of population understanding, community engagement and acceptance of the measures put in place (including more stringent social ** distancing) are key in preventing further spread.
** Implementation of protocols for COVID-19 laboratory testing, diagnosis, surveillance and treatment.
** Enhancement of surveillance, epidemiological investigation, close contact tracing, management of close contacts, immediate case detection and isolation.
** Implementation of social distancing (e.g. the suspension of large-scale gatherings and the closure of schools and workplaces) to interrupt the chains of transmission.
** Adapted risk communication and provision of adequate personal protective equipment for healthcare workers and rigorous application of infection prevention and control measures in healthcare facilities.
** Provision of adequate healthcare capacity to isolate, support and actively treat patients.
** Publishes COVID19 case definition ([[Case Definition issues|issues reported]])
* WHO:
** Publishes COVID19 case definition ([[Case Definition issues|issues reported]])
** Mission of WHO experts arrive in Iran
** “There’s no choice but to act now” (WHO, Dr Tedros)

===3 March (90,664 cases))===
* Shortage of personal protective equipment endangering health workers worldwide

===5 March (95,316 cases)===
* WHO: Director-General emphasized that the COVID-19 epidemic “can be pushed back, but only with a collective coordinated and comprehensive approach that engages the entire machinery of government.”

===6 March (98,172 cases)===
* WHO publishes [https://www.who.int/blueprint/priority-diseases/key-action/Coronavirus_Roadmap_V9.pdf?ua=1 draft R&D blueprint draft for COVID-19]
** The R&D roadmap for COVID-19 outlines research priorities in 9 key areas. These include the natural history of the virus, epidemiology, diagnostics, clinical management, ethical considerations and social sciences, as well as longer-term goals for therapeutics and vaccines.

===7 March (102,133 cases) ===
* ECDC informs countries
** In EU: 4738 cases / 140 deaths in 27 countries
* WHO
** Marking 100 000 cases worldwide

===8 March (105,824 cases)===
* WHO:
** Interim guidance on critical preparedness, readiness and response actions

===9 March (109,695 cases)===
* WHO: “The rule of the game is: never give up.”
** “We are not at the mercy of this virus,” said the WHO Director-General at the 9 March media briefing.
** All countries must aim to stop transmission and prevent the spread of COVID-19, whether they face no cases, sporadic cases, clusters or community transmission.
** “Let hope be the antidote to fear. Let solidarity be the antidote to blame. Let our shared humanity be the antidote to our shared threat"

=== 10 March (114,232 cases)===
* ECDC Publishes Discharge criteria for confirmed COVID-19 cases
* Answers to questions
** What is the duration of SARS-CoV-2 virus shedding in bodily fluids of
*** Symptomatic patients after remission of symptoms?
*** Asymptomatic patients?
** Which tests are available to document the lack of infectivity in a previously diagnosed infection?
** What is the longest documented transmission from an asymptomatic person?
* WHO:
** Provides guidance to help people manage fear, stigma and discrimination during COVID-19
** WHO issues schools guidance with UNICEF and IFRC

===11 March (118,610 cases)===
* WHO declares a pandemic

===12 March (125,497 cases)===
* ECDC Publishes [https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/infection-prevention-and-control-covid-19-healthcare-settings Infection prevention and control for COVID-19 in healthcare settings]
** This update addresses the possible limited supply of personal protective equipment (PPE), hand hygiene materials, and environmental hygiene materials for healthcare facilities
* [https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/rapid-risk-assessment-novel-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-pandemic-increased ECDC RRA COVID19] (#6)
** Need for immediate targeted action
*** Situation similar to China and Italy threatens to occur in other countries within days or weeks
** Social distancing
*** Immediate isolation of suspect COVID19
*** Suspension of mass gathering
*** Teleworking
*** Closure of schools
*** Cordon sanitaire around communities with high transmission
** Public awareness & solidarity
** IPC in HealthCare
** Train HCW who might be asked for support
** Surveillance should focus on rapid case detection, shifting to assessing the effectiveness of community measures

===13 March (133,852 cases)===
* WHO, UN Foundation and partners launch first-of-its-kind COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund
* WHO Launches interim guidance "[https://www.who.int/publications-detail/clinical-management-of-severe-acute-respiratory-infection-when-novel-coronavirus-(ncov)-infection-is-suspected Clinical management of severe acute respiratory infection when novel coronavirus (nCoV) infection is suspected]" <ref>Clinical management of severe acute respiratory infection when novel coronavirus (nCoV) infection is suspected. Interim Guidance. WHO. 13 March 2020</ref>
* Europe becomes the epicenter of the pandemic
* Launch of #SafeHands Challenge

===14 March (143,227 cases)===
* ECDC informs countries
** In EU: 22 753 cases / 1032 deaths in all countries

===16 March (167,418 cases)===
* WHO: "You cannot fight a fire blindfolded.“
** Countries should test every suspected case of COVID-19.
** If people test positive, they should be isolated and the people they have been in close contact with up to 2 days before they developed symptoms should be sought out, and those people should be tested too if they show symptoms of COVID-19.
** WHO also advises that all confirmed cases, even mild cases, should be isolated in health facilities, to prevent transmission and provide adequate care.
** But we recognize that many countries have already exceeded their capacity to care for mild cases in dedicated health facilities.
** In that situation, countries should prioritize older patients and those with underlying conditions.

===17 March (180,163 cases)===
* ECDC Publishes Guidance for health system contingency planning during widespread transmission of SARS-CoV-2 with high impact on healthcare services
** Approaches on how to increase capacity for managing COVID-19 cases in the context of widespread sustained SARS-CoV-2 transmission
* WHO:
** [https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/system/files/2020-03/IASC%20Interim%20Guidance%20on%20COVID-19%20for%20Outbreak%20Readiness%20and%20Response%20Operations%20-%20Camps%20and%20Camp-like%20Settings.pdf New guidance] on people affected by humanitarian crises <ref>Interim Guidance: SCALING-UP COVID-19 OUTBREAK READINESS AND RESPONSE OPERATIONS IN HUMANITARIAN SITUATIONS. Including Camps and Camp-Like Settings Version 1.1 March 2020 IFRC, IOM, UNHCR, WHO</ref>
** WHO calls for urgent, aggressive actions to combat COVID-19, as cases soar in South-East Asia Region

===18 March (194,913 cases)===
* European Medicines Agency (EMA): (Also [[Risk_factors_for_severe_disease|published by WHO]])
** On 18 March 2020, EMA [https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/news/ema-gives-advice-use-non-steroidal-anti-inflammatories-covid-19 published a statement] on the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories for COVID-19. <ref>EMA gives advice on the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories for COVID-19. Press release 18/03/2020</ref>
** There is currently no scientific evidence establishing a link between ibuprofen and worsening of COVID‑19
* More than 320 000 learners enroll in online COVID-19 courses
* WHO Launch of SOLIDARITY trial

===19 March (213,258 cases)===
* WHO Regional Office for Africa holds joint COVID-19 media briefing with World Economic Forum
** Guidance published: [https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3A7d6bc5d2-a857-4bd4-a9db-b1a2c8b25e8e Operational considerations for case management of COVID-19 in health facility and community]
* UN Secretary-General calls for solidarity, hope and political will

===20 March (242,472 cases)===
* WHO: Young people "are not invincible"
** Speaking at the COVID-19 media briefing, the Director-General said:
** "Although older people are the hardest hit, younger people are not spared. Data from many countries clearly show that people under 50 make up a significant proportion of patients requiring hospitalization. Today, I have a message for young people: you are not invincible. This virus could put you in hospital for weeks, or even kill you. Even if you don’t get sick, the choices you make about where you go could be the difference between life and death for someone else. I’m grateful that so many young people are spreading the word and not the virus.“
* WHO Health Alert for coronavirus launches on WhatsApp

===21 March (271,241 cases)===
* ECDC informs countries
** In EU: 74 362 cases / 3694 deaths in all countries

===22 March (305,270 cases)===

===23 March (338,298 cases)===
* WHO and FIFA team up on a campaign to kick out coronavirus
* WHO Situation report <Ref name="WHO SITREP63>[https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200323-sitrep-63-covid-19.pdf?sfvrsn=d97cb6dd_2 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report – 63] </ref>
* ECDC publishes
** "[https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/considerations-related-safe-handling-bodies-deceased-persons-suspected-or Considerations related to the safe handling of bodies of deceased persons with suspected or confirmed COVID-19]"
** [https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-and-supply-substances-human-origin-eueea Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and supply of substances of human origin in the EU/EEA]
** [https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/considerations-relating-social-distancing-measures-response-covid-19-second Considerations relating to social distancing measures in response to COVID-19 – second update]

===24 March (378,113 cases)===

===25 March (417,061 cases)===
* [https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/rapid-risk-assessment-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-pandemic ECDC RRA COVID19 (#7)]
** In the present situation where COVID-19 is rapidly spreading in Europe, the current assessment is:
*** The risk of severe disease associated with COVID-19 for people in the EU/EEA and the UK is currently considered moderate for the general population and very high for older adults and individuals with chronic underlying conditions.
*** The risk of occurrence of widespread national community transmission of COVID-19 in the EU/EEA and the UK in the coming weeks is moderate if effective mitigation measures are in place and very high if insufficient mitigation measures are in place.
*** The risk of healthcare system capacity being exceeded in the EU/EEA and the UK in the coming weeks is considered high.
** Measures taken at this stage should ultimately aim at protecting the most vulnerable population groups from severe illness and fatal outcome by reducing transmission in the general population and enabling the reinforcement of healthcare systems. Given the current epidemiology and risk assessment, and the expected developments in the next days to few weeks, the following public health measures to reduce the further spread and mitigate the impact of the pandemic should be applied in EU/EEA countries.
** Maintain stringent measures until a ‘game-changer’ is developed, for example, a vaccine or a mass-produced, sensitive rapid diagnostic test.
** Apply stringent measures until incidence drops to a certain threshold, then relax measures before reintroducing them before the hospital capacity threshold is reached again.
** Identify a mix of measures that maintains incidence at slightly below hospital capacity, thereby reducing the overall number of cases.

* WHO: [https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-remarks-launch-of-appeal-global-humanitarian-response-plan---25-march-2020 WHO Director General's remarks Launch of Appeal: Global Humanitarian Response Plan]

* UN: [https://www.unocha.org/story/un-issues-2-billion-appeal-combat-covid-19 issues $2 billion appeal to combat COVID-19]

===26 March (467,710 cases)===
* ECDC Publishes
** "[https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/cloth-masks-sterilisation-options-shortage-surgical-masks-respirators Cloth masks and mask sterilization as options in case of shortage of surgical masks and respirators]"
** [https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/disinfection-environments-covid-19 Disinfection of environments in healthcare and non-healthcare settings potentially contaminated with SARS-CoV-2]
* Extraordinary Virtual G20 Leaders’ Summit on COVID-19
* [https://nltimes.nl/2020/03/26/mps-favor-forcing-pharmaceutical-release-recipe-coronavirus-test Dutch MPS In Favor Of Forcing Pharmaceutical To Release Recipe For Coronavirus Test]
** Several parties in the lower house of Dutch parliament are in favor of forcing pharmaceutical company Roche to release the manufacturing process and recipe of the coronavirus test they make if this is necessary. This would make it possible for tests to be produced in the Netherlands, NOS reports.
** There is a shortage of tests to diagnose Covid-19 in the Netherlands, Minister Hugo de Jonge of Public Health confirmed in a letter to parliament. He also confirmed that one of the limitations is the availability of a proprietary lysis buffer fluid produced by pharmaceutical firm Roche for use with its machines. “Technically, we can manufacture this ourselves, but this is subject to regulations, and we must make agreements about this with the manufacturer,” he said.
* WHO publishes "[https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/331590/WHO-2019-nCoV-immunization_services-2020.1-eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y Guiding principles for immunization activities during the COVID-19 pandemic: interim guidance]". <ref>Guiding principles for immunization activities during the COVID-19 pandemic: interim guidance. [https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/331590 WHO. 26 March 2020]</ref>
** This document provides guiding principles and considerations to support countries in their decision-making regarding the provision of immunization services during the COVID-19 pandemic and is endorsed by the WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization. It is complemented by a range of WHO technical materials on response and mitigation measures for COVID-19.
** Each country will need to make individual risk assessments based on the local dynamics of COVID-19 transmission, immunization, and health system characteristics, and current VPD epidemiology in their setting.

===27 March (528,025 cases)===
* The Switzerland based pharmaceutical company Roche releases the detailed guidelines on how to prepare the lysis buffer fluid for the COVID19 test, after pressure and negotiations with Dutch ministry of health. <Ref>Roche deelt recept van vloeistof voor coronatests alsnog. [https://nos.nl/artikel/2328567-roche-deelt-recept-van-vloeistof-voor-coronatests-alsnog.html NOS News. 27 March 2020]</ref>
* WHO WhatsApp health alert launches in Arabic, French and Spanish.
* UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson tests positive for SARS-CoV2.

===28 March (592,275)===

===29 March (656,444)===

===30 March (715,660)===
* WHO releases guidelines to help countries "[https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstreams/1272981/retrieve maintain essential health services during the COVID-19 pandemic]"
* ECDC publishes "Infection prevention and control in the household management of people with suspected or confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19)" <ref>Infection prevention and control in the household management of people with suspected or confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19). [https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/Home-care-of-COVID-19-patients-2020-03-31.pdf ECDC Technical Report 30 March 2020]</ref>

===31 March (777,798 cases)===
* ECDC publishes
** "Infection prevention and control and preparedness for COVID-19 in healthcare settings" <ref name="ECDC-IPC">ECDC Technical Report. Infection prevention and control and preparedness for COVID-19 in healthcare settings. [https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/Infection-prevention-control-for-the-care-of-patients-with-2019-nCoV-healthcare-settings_update-31-March-2020.pdf Third update – 31 March 2020] </ref>
** "Contact tracing: Public health management of persons, including healthcare workers, having had contact with COVID-19 cases in the European Union – second update" <Ref>Contact tracing: Public health management of persons, including healthcare workers, having had contact with COVID-19 cases in the European Union – [https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/contact-tracing-public-health-management-persons-including-healthcare-workers second update. 31 March 2020]</ref>
* WHO warns about "Falsified medical products, including in vitro diagnostics, that claim to prevent, detect, treat or cure COVID-19" <ref>[https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/essential-medicines/drug-alerts20/no3-2020-falsified-mp-forcovid-en.pdf?sfvrsn=cd866001_16 Medical Product Alert N°3/2020] Falsified medical products, including in vitro diagnostics, that claim to prevent, detect, treat or cure COVID-19 </ref>

Covid March 2020 - Revision history

Bosmana: Created page with "==March== ===1 March (87,024 cases)=== * UN releases US$15 million for COVID-19 response ===2 March (89,068 cases)=== * [https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/rapid..."