From Our Bureau
20th MAY 2020
The Corona Virus (CPVID-19) pandemic situation remained grim globally, with the confirmed cases across the world soaring to 47,89,205 and the death toll reaching 3,18,789 in the 216 affected countries and territories, according to the latest update from the World Health Organization (WHO).
Globally, European region continued to be the worst-hit in terms of fatalities with 19,28,799 confirmed cases and 1,69,033 deaths. American region came next with 21,05,670 confirmed cases and 1,25,843 deaths. Eastern Mediterranean region reported 3,61,902 confirmed cases and 10,303 deaths.
Western Pacific region’s tally stood at 1,69,955 confirmed cases and 6,780 deaths. South-East Asia region recorded 1,56,211 confirmed cases and 4,971 deaths and African region witnessed 65,956 confirmed cases and 1,846 deaths. WHO Risk Assessment at global level remained very high.
WHO Regional Director for the Americas Dr Carissa F. Etienne highlighted that addressing COVID-19 would require protecting vulnerable groups including women, underprivileged populations, indigenous populations and migrants, by addressing health, social and economic inequalities.
WHO has published a new Case Report Form for “Suspected cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS) in children and adolescents temporally related to COVID-19” intended for use by public health professionals for collecting standardized data on clinical presentations, severity and outcomes.
Uganda commissioned the first Port Health COVID-19 laboratory at the main Uganda-Tanzania border in light of potential COVID-19 importation by truck drivers. Two GeneXpert machines will be used to test all truck drivers arriving at the Mutukula point of entry, where results will become available within 45 minutes.
A doctor from Cairo, Egypt describes how he became infected with and recovered from COVID-19and highlights the need for health care workers to practice basic infection, prevention and control measures when interacting with patients.
Evidence from social science can help officials develop and implement policies in ways that are more likely to work because they are tailored to local needs. WHO is implementing the COVID-19 Research Roadmap agenda to translate evidence from the social sciences into action. (eom)
