“We need a much stronger response of unity and solidarity if we are to get through this pandemic together and build a safer, more stable future, (…) Returning to the systems that created this fragility is out of the question,” António Guterres said.

He added: “This is essential not only to beat COVID-19, but to tackle the other existential crises we face, including the climate emergency.”    

La Secretaría General de la Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA) publicó “La Carta Democrática Interamericana: Guía de acción política para enfrentar la pandemia del COVID-19”. La Guía busca promover la funcionalidad y vigencia de los principios democráticos como elementos indispensables y eficaces para avanzar en medio de los retos originados por la pandemia, especialmente en la nueva fase de recuperación económica y progresivo restablecimiento social. La Guía se basa en el concepto de que la pandemia exige seguir insistiendo en los mecanismos democráticos como la forma más adecuada para abordar la emergencia y sus consecuencias.

Just in the past week there were 732,000 new cases globally, and of these, more than 250,000 new cases were in Latin American countries, “a serious concern that should serve as a clarion call to redouble our efforts,” Dr. Carissa Etienne said at a press briefing. “The situation we face is dire, but not hopeless – as long as our approach to defeating the virus is based on solidarity. We must work together, share resources and apply the proven strategies we have learned along the way.” 

Hand washing and maintaining social distance are the main measures recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to avoid contracting COVID-19. Unfortunately, these measured do not prevent infection by inhalation of small droplets exhaled by an infected person that can travel distance of meters or tens of meters in the air and carry their viral content. Science explains the mechanisms of such transport and there is evidence that this is a significant route of infection in indoor environments. Despite this, no countries or authorities consider airborne spread of COVID-19 in their regulations to prevent infections transmission indoors. It is therefore extremely important, that the national authorities acknowledge the reality that the virus spreads through air, and recommend that adequate control measures be implemented to prevent further spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, in particularly removal of the virus-laden droplets from indoor air by ventilation.

The Portal is designed to be a  forum in which to propose ideas and initiatives that can later become real projects to be implemented, as well a place to listen to opinions, debates and reflections, in order to improve the service provided to citizens. To this end, the OAS General Secretariat is organizing a series of webinars and virtual round tables on COVID-19 and the four pillars of the OAS: democracy, human rights, multidimensional security and integral development.

41.000 personas en 9 países respondieron a una encuesta remota sobre cómo la COVID-19 ha afectado sus medios de vida, seguridad alimentaria y acceso a mercados. Las principales preocupaciones de las personas que aceptaron completar la encuesta realizada en línea fueron: incapacidad para cubrir sus necesidades alimentarias, pérdida parcial o total de ingresos debido a la crisis generada por la pandemia, y miedo a la propagación del virus.

“Phase two starts now. Let us face it with a desire to restart, but also with caution (...) this is a 'calculated risk'”. Please find provisions regulating entry to Italy here.

In Europe and in the world, all minds are focused on actions to tackle the outbreak of COVID-19 and mitigate the effects of the crisis. The European Union works on all fronts to support these efforts. We take this opportunity to thank all those who are working tirelessly to contain the pandemic and care for those in need, anywhere in the world.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in countries ramping up spending and contingent spending to address urgent needs related to saving lives and livelihoods. To ensure the effectiveness of such spending, it is crucial to be mindful of vulnerabilities to misuse and corruption. Emergency spending responses have differed markedly across countries and ensuring the effectiveness of such spending require different specific approaches in each country. Yet there are some common lessons, particularly for countries in which institutional capacities are constrained and fiscal governance is weak—notably in public financial management (PFM) systems and fiscal transparency practices. Drawing on lessons from the 2014–16 Ebola crisis, this note identifies measures that could mitigate corruption vulnerabilities, with a particular focus on budget execution controls.

The National Serological Survey is a study promoted by the National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA). This study aims at "monitoring the evolution of immunity against the new Coronavirus in the Portuguese population", as explained by the State Secretary for Health, António Sales.

All blood tests for antibody determination and data analysis will be carried out by INSA, through its Department of Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases.

Starting 15 May 2020, services at places of worship will be allowed to resume. In addition, funeral services will be able to take place without limits to the number of family members or friends in attendance. Restaurants will be able to open, but will be limited to a maximum of four people per table (or parents with their children). Museums, libraries, archives, as well as sports centers, sport venues and fitness centers will be allowed to reopen. Fitness and sport classes such as yoga or spinning are therefore also limited to five people including the instructor.

The 2020 Call for Projects will henceforth give particular attention to responses and solutions aiming to improve the current context, prevent future crises, and facilitate a transition to a better tomorrow. It will focus improving the governance of health, the use of digital tools and platforms and the support of civil society and economic activity in times of pandemics.

El Gobierno definió seis áreas en las que concentrará los esfuerzos para la reactivación, basado en las proyecciones de crecimiento del PIB mundial de -3% en 2020 y de 5,8% en 2021, y en las proyecciones de crecimiento de Costa Rica de un -3,6% en 2020 y un 2,3% en 2021, así como en la proyección de las principales afectaciones al sector comercial.

It was reported that the number of COVID-19 cases recorded in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as at the time of the situation report, is seventeen (17) persons. Nine (9) persons have so far recovered, while there are eight active cases. To date there have been no COVID-19 related deaths.

Thirty million Americans filed for unemployment in the past six weeks. It took about a year to reach that number in the wake of the Lehman Brothers’ bankruptcy. Meanwhile, euro area GDP contracted by 3.8% in the first quarter of 2020 (Eurostat 2020). Against this background, the relatively slow frequency of most official statistics and macroeconomic indicators represents a challenge for policymakers in their efforts to mitigate the economic impact of the crisis.

Regulations made by the Governor-General in exercise of the powers conferred upon him by section 18(9) of the Belize Constitution, Chapter 4 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011, and all other powers thereunto him enabling.

NATO and Italy’s National Institute for Health (ISS) are launching a practical scientific project to develop new tools for a rapid and accurate diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This multi-year project is launched within the framework of NATO’s Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme, and is led by scientists on the frontline of COVID-19 research from Italy’s Istituto Superiore di Sanità (National Health Institute) and Tor Vergata University Hospital together with the University Hospital of Basel University in Switzerland. This 24-month initiative aims to enhance the speed and efficiency of COVID-19 diagnosis through a multidisciplinary approach, by bringing together experts in the field of immunology, virology and molecular biology. 

The measures shall take effect from the 4th May 2020 and last until the 3rd June, 2020 unless earlier terminated, extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Public Health after an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions.

The COVID-19 pandemic threatens education progress worldwide through two major shocks: the near-universal closing of schools at all levels and the economic recession sparked by pandemic-control measures, says The World Bank.

In keeping with measures being taken around the world to slow the spread of the coronavirus, the OECD has taken the decision to postpone OECD Week 2020 – made up of its annual Ministerial Council Meeting (MCM) and public OECD Forum – from late May to a date to be agreed in due course.