The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is making available emergency loans to seven Caribbean countries, in the first instance, to finance the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, the Bank’s Board of Directors has approved a total of US$66.7 million for Antigua and Barbuda (US$13 million), Belize (US$15 million), Dominica (US$2.5 million), Grenada (US$5.9 million), Saint Lucia (US$10.8 million), St. Vincent and the Grenadines (US$11.3 million), and Suriname (US$8.2 million).

“The provision of support to the seven countries to respond to COVID-19 and keep critical government services and operations running is urgent to halt the economic decline and minimise social hardship, while giving focused attention to the most vulnerable people,” says CDB President Dr. Wm Warren Smith.

With  “unprecedented solidarity”, the World Health Assembly adopted a “landmark resolution” on Tuesday, which sets out a “clear roadmap” of the actions needed to sustain and accelerate the COVID-19 response at both national and international levels, the UN health agency chief told a press briefing on Wednesday, the day after the meeting concluded.

"Unless we open up our economy, we have millions facing starvation." That was the straightforward assessment of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on the impact of COVID-19 during a virtual meeting of the Forum's COVID Action Platform on 20 May.

Khan explained: "In Pakistan, we have 25 million workers who are either [on] daily wages or get paid weekly or are self-employed. When we locked down, like the whole of the world, to stop the spread of the virus, all these people became unemployed. When we're talking about 25 million workers, you're talking about 25 million families and it has affected almost 120-150 million people...unless the men and women work, they cannot feed their families."

Curtailed access to justice institutions, rising intimate partner violence, growing injustice for women workers – including those on the frontlines of the crisis –, and discriminatory laws are some of the major risks to women’s lives and livelihoods associated with COVID-19. Estimates suggest that roughly 2.73 billion women around the world live in countries where stay-at-home orders are in place, which sharply heightens the risk of intimate partner violence.

I have many friends who run their own small businesses, in Europe, Australia, and Asia. They include dental clinics, restaurants, small travel agencies, and manufacturing businesses. All have been forced to close.

Small businesses are incredibly important, both socially and economically. In 2019 the ILO published a report, Small Matters which showed that small economic units with up to 49 employees account for approximately 70 per cent of global employment. Their contribution to GDP is significant. So small really does matter.

La crisis de la COVID-19 ha ejercido una enorme presión sobre los empleadores y las empresas del sector privado, que luchan por sobrevivir y seguir ofreciendo trabajo decente. Deborah France Massin, directora de la Oficina de Actividades para los Empleadores, explica cómo ha estado ayudando con servicios y herramientas y al garantizar que el punto de vista de las empresas esté representado ante los responsables de la toma de decisiones.

“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 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.

Relación de las acciones e iniciativas más destacadas que México, como una respuesta de Estado, ha puesto en marcha para hacer frente a la pandemia.

Prime Minister Dr the Hon. Keith Rowley announced further relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions at a media conference at the Diplomatic Center, St Anns.

Prime Minister Dr the Hon Keith Rowley said today Phase 2, initially scheduled to begin on May 24th, 2020 will now commence earlier due to favourable testing results.

Phase 2 will also include the reopening of :
* Auto repair/parts and tyre shops
* Laundry and dry cleaning services

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.

Talking to children about Coronavirus is not always easy. But Dr Ranj Singh has built a career on communicating with the very young about illness, medecine and hospitals in his BBC TV show Get Well Soon. So for this episode of World Vs Virus. we asked him to join a Zoom call to take questions from three children, Asal, 6, Ella, 9, and Luke 11.

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.