For example, during the pandemic, American Eagle Outfitters deployed robots to help it sort clothes in its warehouses to meet a surge of online orders, and IBM saw a surge in new customers in the second quarter of 2020 for its AI-driven Watson Assistant, a platform for deploying chatbots and other customer services.3 Use of such technologies allows contactless customer interaction in a period when human contact is discouraged and builds resilience by limiting reliance on virus-susceptible employees. Providers of cloud services, such as Amazon and Alibaba, have announced plans to markedly step up investment in cloud services, an indication that they expect increased demand related to changes in the workplace post-COVID

El 25% de los países aún no tiene fecha para el regreso a la escuela con los efectos negativos que los cierres prolongados causados por la pandemia implican para la educación. Las agencias dedicadas a la salud, los niños y la educación urgen a los gobiernos a dar prioridad a la reapertura escolar invirtiendo en medidas de seguridad y protección sanitaria.

Confianza, tecnología, recuperación económica, protección social, seguridad y equilibrio de poderes son los principales retos que tiene la región para que la democracia no salga tan afectada por el impacto de la pandemia, que seguirá presente en las próximas elecciones en diversos países. La contienda electoral en Estados Unidos y sus efectos en América Latina también se abordó en la tercera jornada de la 24 Conferencia Anual CAF.

El impacto de la pandemia en los sectores de salud, cambio climático y digitalización amenaza con expandir las brechas entre las economías más avanzadas y las regiones en desarrollo. Para evitarlo, se requiere más inversión pública y cooperación internacional, según un grupo de expertos internacionales reunidos virtualmente en el segundo día de la Conferencia Anual de CAF.

Intervened during the first meeting of the newly established "Facilitation Council" of the Accelerator ACT - Access to COVID-19 Tools, noting “(..) we will contribute additional funds that will bring Italy's overall contribution to equitable access to vaccines for all, to over 100 million dollars”, while also underlining the importance of effective multilateralism to “to achieve the goal of equitable access to life-saving tools for all and everywhere”. The Vice Minister also underscored Italy's full commitment also during the next G20 Presidency, "where we will keep the response to the pandemic, global health and support to the ACT Accelerator as priorities".

Tras alcanzarse el año pasado el menor número de muertes de niños y niñas a nivel mundial con 5,2 millones, la pandemia del coronavirus puede romper la tendencia a la baja y desarmar esfuerzos que tardaron décadas en lograrse. En muchos países se están produciendo interrupciones en los reconocimientos médicos, las vacunaciones y la atención pre y postnatal.

Confianza, tecnología, recuperación económica, protección social, seguridad y equilibrio de poderes son los principales retos que tiene la región para que la democracia no salga tan afectada por el impacto de la pandemia, que seguirá presente en las próximas elecciones en diversos países. La contienda electoral en Estados Unidos y sus efectos en América Latina también se abordó en la tercera jornada de la 24 Conferencia Anual CAF.

La Comisión Interamericana de Mujeres (CIM) de la Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA), con la cooperación de la Unión Europea a través de su programa EUROsociAL+, presenta y pone a disposición de los Estados Miembros de la OEA, de organizaciones de la sociedad civil y sector privado el documento “COVID-19 en la vida de las mujeres: Emergencia global de los cuidados”, en respuesta a la profundización de la desigualdad en la distribución de las tareas domésticas y de cuidado y al incremento de la carga de trabajo no remunerado que están realizando las mujeres. El texto analiza el rol de las mujeres en el funcionamiento de la vida doméstica y productiva y los impactos en sus vidas y en la economía.

Parte de adaptarse a la "nueva normalidad" es encontrar formas de vivir nuestras vidas de manera segura”, explicó Tedros Adhanon Gebreyesus.

“Se trata de tomar buenas decisiones. Estamos pidiendo a todos que tomen las decisiones sobre dónde ir, qué hacer y a quién ver como si fueran decisiones de vida o muerte; porque lo son. Puede no ser tu vida, pero tu elección puede marcar la diferencia entre la vida y la muerte de alguien a quien amas o de un extraño”, dijo.

“We must remember that most people are still susceptible to this virus. As long as it’s circulating, everyone is at risk”, said Tedros (Adhanom Ghebreyesus), adding, “just because cases might be at a low level where you live, that doesn’t make it safe to let down your guard.”

“In recent years we’ve seen young people leading grassroots movements for climate change and racial equality. Now we need young people to start a global movement for health – for a world in which health is a human right, not a privilege”, he suggested.

The report Temporary Basic Income: Protecting Poor and Vulnerable People in Developing Countries estimates that it would cost from $199 billion per month to provide a time-bound, guaranteed basic income to the 2.7 billion people living below or just above the poverty line in 132 developing countries.

The report concludes that the measure is feasible and urgently needed, with the pandemic now spreading at a rate of more than 1.5 million new cases per week, particularly in developing countries, where seven out of ten workers make a living through informal markets and cannot earn money if they are at home.

This document is the result of 13 meetings held between the Office of the General Secretariat for the Crisis of Venezuelan Migrants and Refugees and the Coalition for Venezuela, made up of 63 civil society organizations that provide assistance to Venezuelans in 23 countries in the region.

"The situation of Venezuelan migrants and refugees represents one of the greatest challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, given that it has increased the difficulty in fully exercising their rights, such as: access to health, education, the right to life, to housing, to food, to work and the safeguarding of livelihoods,” the document states in the introduction.

“Laws and policies that are grounded in science, evidence and human rights can enable people to access health services, protect themselves from COVID-19 and live free from stigma, discrimination and violence,” says Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator. “The COVID-19 Law Lab is an important tool for sharing good practices on laws and policies.”

Certain underlying, chronic conditions like diabetes, kidney disease and hypertension, as well as infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis, or immunosuppression, place people at increased risk for more severe COVID-19 disease.

“Unfortunately, many of these medical conditions are widespread in the Americas, which leaves

This daily round-up brings you a selection of the latest news updates on the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, as well as tips and tools to help you stay informed and protected. Top stories: South Korea flu vaccine troubles; grim milestones for Mexico and the US; restrictions are relaxed in Bogota; Disneyland Hong Kong reopens.

At one point, Spain was among the countries impacted most by COVID-19. At the outbreak’s peak, close to 10,000 new cases were reported in a single day in Spain. Since then, intensive efforts, led by robust surveillance, testing, contact tracing, treatment and isolation, have managed to suppress transmission.

Dr Tedros said this shift was due to the leadership shown by Spain and the strong resolve shown by the Spanish public to adhere to strict restrictions, including lockdowns, physical distancing and other critical measures to contain transmission. These efforts, combined, have successfully changed the course of the country’s outbreak.

While data is not yet available to measure the rise of global multidimensional poverty after the pandemic, simulations for 70 countries in the developing world, based on the anticipated impacts of the virus on just two components of the global MPI – nutrition and school attendance – suggests how much impact the crisis could have unless it is addressed.

In a joint statement, COICA and PAHO ask countries to “strengthen health care services in the Amazon through the provision of human resources, supplies and medical devices, including tests, as well as through treatments and vaccines when they are available. The statement places emphasis on those populations living in voluntary isolation.

COICA includes indigenous organizations from the Peruvian jungle, eastern Bolivia, the Ecuadorian Amazon, the Colombian Amazon, and the Brazilian Amazon.

In the current state of emergency, governments should prioritize transparent public information campaigns, plan strategies that involve marginalized groups in urban areas and indigenous communities, guarantee access to clean water, soap, food, income, and other essential items, ensure internet connectivity, use spaces other than hospitals to isolate COVID-19 patients, and design strategies to safely move patients among medical facilities.

WHO Director-General today announced the initiation of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response (IPPR) to evaluate the world’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Operating independently, they will choose other Panel members as well as members of an independent secretariat to provide support.