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A Coordinated Response to Coronavirus

16 March 2020

Caption: Kids showing thumbs up photographed

Photo: © Urban WASH programme Monrovia, Liberia

The UN Secretary-General urged all countries to take a comprehensive approach tailored to their circumstances.

On Wednesday, 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) characterized the coronavirus (COVID-19) viral disease as a pandemic, but it is a pandemic that can be controlled. Coronavirus (COVID-19) is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who heads the UN agency, said, in his statement, “Let me be clear: describing this as a pandemic does not mean that countries should give up.”

The UN Secretary-General urged all countries to take a comprehensive approach tailored to their circumstances – with containment as the central pillar. COVID-19 is affecting thousands of people, impacting countries’ health systems and having widespread social and economic effects. The UN entities working on development, the United Nations Sustainable Development Group, are supporting countries in their preparedness and response plans.

This page convenes sources of information and guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations (UN) regarding the current outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

WHO is working closely with global experts, governments and partners to track the spread and to provide guidance to countries and individuals on measures to protect health and prevent the spread of this outbreak.

The United Nations Country Team in Liberia continues to support the government of Liberia in battling a spike in COVID-19 cases in the country that began in June 2021.

The UN team, led by Resident Coordinator Niels Scott, provide a wide variety of support to bring the health emergency under control. “This pandemic has again highlighted that health systems and investing in health system strengthening remains the foundation of a health society, healthy communities, and healthy economy”- Niels Scott, Resident Coordinator, Liberia.

The UN Country Team continues supporting authorities, including by helping with the transportation and customs clearance of the vaccines, as well as supporting the cold chain system.

The UN in Liberia is also working to strengthen contact tracing and expand the capacity of laboratories. WHO and UNICEF have been helping develop national and regional vaccination plans and are engaging with communities to provide accurate information and dispel misconceptions. In addition, the UN team also helped to improve infection prevention and control and raised funds to increase oxygen therapy capacity.

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