While raising the global risk surrounding the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, to very high, the World Health Organization (WHO) this week released $15 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) as a means of shoring up defenses in more vulnerable nations.
“We do not yet see evidence that the virus is spreading freely. As long as that’s the case, we still have a chance of containing it,” Mark Lowcock, Emergency Relief Coordinator and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, said. “But swift and robust action must be taken to detect cases early, isolate and care for patients, and trace contacts. We must act now to stop this virus from putting more lives at risk. This grant from the UN’s Emergency Fund will help countries with fragile health systems boost their detection and response operations. It has the potential to save the lives of millions of vulnerable people.”
Though the chain of transmission could still be broken, WHO officials have said, the global risk upgrade to the highest possible level underscores the dangerous trends of the last few weeks, wherein nations like Italy, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Korea suddenly became hotspots for the disease. As of March 1, the WHO reported some 59 countries and 87,000 people had been infected worldwide, though the vast majority of cases remain in China.
The emergency injection of funding was released to both the WHO and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF). These funds can be put toward monitoring viral spread, investigating cases, and national laboratory operations.
“The potential spread of the virus to countries with weaker health systems is one of our biggest concerns,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, reiterating a message he has often preached since the outbreak began. “These funds will help support these countries get ready for detecting and isolating cases, protecting their health workers, and treating patients with dignity and appropriate care. This will help us save lives and push back the virus.”
Additionally, WHO has called for $675 million to fund anti-COVID-19 efforts, saying that robust measures are necessary.