UNRIC Library Backgrounder: Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

PDF

What is COVID-19? COVID-19 is the disease caused by a new coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. WHO first learned of this new virus on 31 December 2019, following a report of a cluster of cases of ‘viral pneumonia’ in Wuhan, People’s Republic of China.

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) – Q&A on Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

UN Entities

• World Health Organization (WHO)
  • Health Topics – Coronavirus: https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus
  • Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic: https://www.who.int/covid-19
    • Timeline: WHO’s COVID-19 response: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/interactive-timeline
    • WHO declares the new coronavirus outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern – Statement on the second meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding the outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) (30 January 2020): https://bit.ly/3lmg25Q
    • WHO characterizes COVID-19 as a pandemic (11 March 2020): https://bit.ly/3llA3Jz
    • The WHO Director-General determines that COVID-19 is now an established and ongoing health issue which no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) – Statement on the fifteenth meeting of the IHR (2005) Emergency Committee on the COVID-19 pandemic (5 May 2023): http://tinyurl.com/2j5x6wvr
  • WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard: https://covid19.who.int/
  • Situation reports: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports/
  • Travel advice: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/travel-advice
  • Advice for public / Infographics: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
  • Origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus: https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus/origins-of-the-virus
  • Country & Technical Guidance: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/technical-guidance
  • Myth busters: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters
  • COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund:
    https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/donate
  • COVID-19 Vaccines: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/covid-19-vaccines
  • COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination explained (WHO Collaborating Centre for Vaccine Safety, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago): https://www.covid19infovaccines.com/
  • COVAX: Working for global equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines: https://www.who.int/initiatives/act-accelerator/covax
    • COVID-19 vaccinations shift to regular immunization as COVAX draws to a close (19 December 2023): https://www.who.int/news/item/19-12-2023-covid-19-vaccinations-shift-to-regular-immunization-as-covax-draws-to-a-close
  • WHO compilation of innovative concepts to communicate science during the COVID-19 pandemic: https://www.who.int/teams/epi-win/scicom-compilation

• WHO Europe – Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic:
  https://www.who.int/europe/emergencies/situations/covid-19
  • • Dashboard: COVID-19 situation in the WHO European Region: https://who.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/ead3c6475654481ca51c248d52ab9c61
    • Infographics and videos in over 30 languages: https://who.canto.global/v/coronavirus/folder/PQC9D
    • One year of WHO/Europe’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic (9 March 2021): https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/09-03-2021-one-year-of-who-europe-s-response-to-the-covid-19-pandemic
• Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response: https://theindependentpanel.org/
  • • Losing Time: End this Pandemic and Secure the Future – Progress six months after the report of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response. This report was released at an open Chatham House event on 22 November 2021: https://theindependentpanel.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/COVID-19-Losing-Time_Final.pdf
    • In May 2021, the Independent Panel presented its findings and recommendations for action to curb the COVID-19 pandemic and to ensure that any future infectious disease outbreak does not become another catastrophic pandemic: https://theindependentpanel.org/mainreport/

• United Nations
  • • Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus
    • UN COVID-19 Response: https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/response
    • Policy Briefs: https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/UN-response
    • From the UN Secretary-General: https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/un-secretary-general
    • ‘Verified’ initiative: https://www.shareverified.com/
    • #OnlyTogether campaign supports global vaccine equity call: https://shareverified.com/only-together/
  • Impact of COVID-19 on UN Peacekeeping: https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/impact-of-covid-19-un-peacekeeping
  • Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA)
    • UN DESA portal on response to COVID-19: https://www.un.org/en/desa/covid-19
    • UN COVID-19 Data Hub: https://covid-19-data.unstatshub.org/
    • Web portal for the statistical community:
      https://covid-19-response.unstatshub.org/
    • COVID-19 Outbreak and Persons with Disabilities: https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/covid-19.html
  • Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA)
    • COVID-19: One War that Must Be Fought (In: Politically Speaking, 28 March 2020): https://dppa.medium.com/covid-19-one-war-that-must-be-fought-df34a180cf51
  • Sustainable Development Goals Knowledge Platform:
    • COVID-19 – Dispatches from the Field: Scientists, experts and policy makers addressing the Covid-19 crisis around the world: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/blog/covid19

• General Assembly
  • High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, 20 September 2023
    • Adopting landmark declaration, General Assembly calls for strengthening high-level international coordination to improve pandemic prevention, preparedness, response (GA/12533, 20 September 2023): https://press.un.org/en/2023/ga12533.doc.htm
    • Resolution 78/3: Political Declaration of the United Nations General Assembly High-level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response / Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 5 October 2023: https://undocs.org/A/RES/78/3
  • Joint High-level Thematic Debate convened by the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Economic and Social Council on Debt Sustainability for a better recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic, 31 May 2022: https://www.un.org/pga/76/2022/05/09/letter-from-the-pga-p-ecosoc-joint-hld-on-debt-concept-note/
  • Informal meeting of the plenary to brief on the findings and recommendations of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, 28 July 2021
    • HE Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Rt Hon. Helen Clark brief Member States at the United Nations General Assembly on pandemic response: https://bit.ly/3xenFQV
    • Elevating political leadership for Pandemic Preparedness and Response Meeting with the UN General Assembly – The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response: https://bit.ly/2UXFKFG
  • Informal Meeting on the Political Declaration on Equitable Global Access to COVID-19 Vaccines, 26 March 2021: https://www.un.org/pga/75/2021/03/24/informal-meeting-on-the-political-declaration-on-equitable-global-access-to-covid-19-vaccines/
    • Webcast: https://bit.ly/3w8IJcl
  • Special Session of the General Assembly in Response to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic, 3-4 December 2020, UN Headquarters, New York:
    https://www.un.org/pga/75/special-session-of-the-general-assembly-in-response-to-the-coronavirus-disease-covid-19-pandemic/
    https://www.un.org/en/ga/sessions/special.shtml
    • Summary: https://www.un.org/pga/75/2021/03/09/special-session-of-the-general-assembly-in-response-to-the-covid-19-summary/
  • Resolution 77/275: Scope, modalities, format and organization of the High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response: https://undocs.org/A/RES/77/275
  • Resolution 76/301: High-level meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response: https://undocs.org/A/RES/76/301
  • Resolution 76/257: Elevating pandemic prevention, preparedness and response to the highest level of political leadership: https://undocs.org/A/RES/76/257
  • Resolution 76/184: Strengthening criminal justice systems during and after the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic: https://undocs.org/A/RES/76/184
  • Resolution 76/175: Ensuring equitable, affordable, timely and universal access for all countries to vaccines in response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic: https://undocs.org/A/RES/76/175
  • Resolution 76/174: Implementing the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms through providing a safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders and ensuring their protection, including in the context of and recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic: https://undocs.org/A/RES/76/174
  • Resolution 76/133: Inclusive policies and programmes to address homelessness including in the aftermath of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19): https://undocs.org/A/RES/76/133
  • Resolution 75/313: Strengthening the links between all modes of transport to achieve stable and reliable international transport for sustainable development during and after the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic: https://undocs.org/A/RES/75/313
  • Resolution 75/157 “Women and girls and the response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19)”: https://undocs.org/A/RES/75/157
  • Resolution 75/156 “Strengthening national and international rapid response to the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on women and girls”:  https://undocs.org/A/RES/75/156
  • Resolution 75/17 “International cooperation to address challenges faced by seafarers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic to support global supply chains”:  https://undocs.org/A/RES/75/17
  • Resolution 75/4 “Special session of the General Assembly in response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic”: https://www.undocs.org/A/RES/75/4
  • Resolution 74/307 “United response against global health threats: combating COVID-19”: https://undocs.org/A/RES/74/307
  • Resolution 74/306 “Comprehensive and coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic”: https://undocs.org/A/RES/74/306
  • Resolution 74/274 “International cooperation to ensure global access to medicines, vaccines and medical equipment to face COVID-19”, adopted on 20 April 2020: http://undocs.org/A/RES/74/274
  • Appointment of co-coordinators on COVID-19 initiatives (20 April 2020): https://www.un.org/pga/74/2020/04/20/appointment-of-co-coordinators-for-covid-19-related-initiatives/
  • Resolution 74/270 “Global solidarity to fight the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)”, adopted under a silence procedure on 2 April 2020: https://www.un.org/pga/74/2020/03/30/global-solidarity-to-fight-covid-19/
    http://undocs.org/A/RES/74/270
• Security Council
  https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/meetings-2020-vtc
  • 26 February 2021: Maintenance of international peace and security
    • UN News Centre: https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/02/1085942
    • Security Council resolution 2565 (2021) [on international cooperation to facilitate equitable and affordable access to COVID-19 vaccines in conflict areas]: https://undocs.org/S/RES/2565(2021)
  • 17 February 2021: Maintenance of international peace and security: Follow up on the implementation of resolution 2532 (2020) – Open debate on ensuring equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines in contexts affected by conflict and insecurity
    • UN News Centre: https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/02/1084962
    • Concept note: https://www.undocs.org/S/2021/138
  • 25 January 2021: Maintenance of international peace and security: Follow up on the implementation of resolution 2532 (2020)
    • UN News Centre: https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/01/1082902
  • 24 September 2020: Summit-level debate on the theme “Maintenance of international peace and security: global governance after COVID-19”
    • UN News Centre: https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/09/1073462
    • Concept note: https://undocs.org/S/2020/883
  • 12 August 2020: Peacebuilding and sustaining peace: Pandemics and the challenges of sustaining peace
    • UN News Centre: https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/08/1070082
  • 2 July 2020: Maintenance of international peace and security: Implications of COVID-19
    • UN News Centre: https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/07/1067632
    • Concept note: https://undocs.org/S/2020/571
  • 1 July 2020: Maintenance of international peace and security
    • UN News Centre: https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/07/1067552
    • Security Council resolution 2532 (2020) [on cessation of hostilities in the context of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic]: http://undocs.org/S/RES/2532(2020)
  • 9 April 2020 – Impact of COVID-19 pandemic
    • UN News Centre: https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/04/1061502
• Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
  • ECOSOC’s Response to COVID-19: https://bit.ly/2INWvgp
  • Latest by the President of ECOSOC on COVID-19: https://bit.ly/3sy6Lum
  • 2021 ECOSOC Special Ministerial Meeting: A Vaccine for All, 16 April 2021: https://www.un.org/ecosoc/en/events/2021/vaccine-all
  • Joining Forces: Effective Policy Solutions for Covid-19 Response, ECOSOC Informal Briefing, 11 May 2020: https://www.un.org/ecosoc/en/events/2020/joining-forces-effective-policy-solutions-covid-19-response
• Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
  • COVID-19 Observatory: https://www.cepal.org/en/subtopics/covid-19
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
  • Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19): http://www.fao.org/2019-ncov/en/
  • COVID-19 – Impact on food and agriculture: http://www.fao.org/2019-ncov/q-and-a/en/
  • FAO policy briefs related to COVID-19: http://www.fao.org/2019-ncov/resources/policy-briefs/en/
• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
  • COVID-19: latest IAEA updates: https://www.iaea.org/covid-19
• International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
  • COVID-19 Response and Recovery Platform: https://www.icao.int/covid/Pages/default.aspx
• International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
  • COVID-19 pandemic: https://www.ifad.org/en/covid19
  • New IFAD fund launched to help prevent rural food crisis in wake of COVID-19 (20 April 2020): https://www.ifad.org/en/web/latest/news-detail/asset/41877895
• International Labour Organisation (ILO)
  • COVID-19 and the world of work: https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/coronavirus/lang–en/index.htm
  • COVID-19 and the world of work: Global impact and policy responses: https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/coronavirus/impacts-and-responses/lang–en/index.htm
• International Monetary Fund (IMF)
  • The IMF and COVID-19 (Coronavirus): https://www.imf.org/en/Topics/imf-and-covid19
  • Europe’s COVID-19 Crisis and the Fund’s Response (30 March 2020): https://blogs.imf.org/2020/03/30/europes-covid-19-crisis-and-the-funds-response/
• International Maritime Organization (IMO)
  • In Focus – Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic: http://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/HotTopics/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx
  • Seafarer Crisis Action Team: case studies : https://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/HotTopics/Pages/SCAT.aspx
  • Frequently asked questions about how COVID-19 is impacting seafarers: : https://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/HotTopics/Pages/FAQ-on-crew-changes-and-repatriation-of-seafarers.aspx
  • Testimonies of stranded seafarers: https://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/HotTopics/Pages/Testimonies-of-stranded-seafarers.aspx
• International Organization for Migration (IOM)
  • Responding to Covid-19: https://www.iom.int/covid19
  • IOM Releases Guidance for Employers and Businesses on Protection of Migrant Workers During the COVID-19 Crisis (7 April 2020): https://www.iom.int/news/iom-releases-guidance-employers-and-businesses-protection-migrant-workers-during-covid-19
  • The Rights and Health of Refugees, Migrants and Stateless Must be Protected in COVID-19 Response (31 March 2020): https://www.iom.int/news/rights-and-health-refugees-migrants-and-stateless-must-be-protected-covid-19-response
  • COVID-19 Does Not Discriminate; Nor Should Our Response (20 March 2020): https://www.iom.int/news/covid-19-does-not-discriminate-nor-should-our-response
• International Narcotics Control Board (INCB)
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: https://www.incb.org/incb/en/coronavirus.html
  • I2ES Forum – Platform for exchanging ideas on contingency measures during COVID-19 (24 March 2020): https://www.incb.org/incb/en/news/news_2020/i2es_forum_covid-19.html
• International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
  • COVID-19 response and recovery: https://www.itu.int/en/Pages/covid-19.aspx
  • Global Network Resiliency Platform (#REG4COVID): https://reg4covid.itu.int/
  • Pandemic preparedness: Tech for COVID-19 and future outbreaks: https://www.itu.int/en/mediacentre/backgrounders/Pages/Pandemic-preparedness.aspx
  • Unleashing information technology to defeat COVID-19: Initiative builds on current efforts to disseminate health messages through the joint WHO-ITU BeHe@lthy BeMobile initiative (20 April 2020): https://www.itu.int/en/mediacentre/Pages/STMNT02-2020-who-itu-joint-statement-covid-19-be-healthy-be-mobile.aspx
  • 3 key areas innovative tech is helping during the COVID-19 pandemic (17 April 2020): https://news.itu.int/3-ways-innovative-tech-is-helping-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/
  • Working from home: Cybersecurity in the time of COVID-19 (9 April 2020): https://news.itu.int/working-from-home-cybersecurity-in-the-time-of-covid-19/
• United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
  • OCHA and COVID-19: https://www.unocha.org/covid19
  • ReliefWeb – COVID-19 Global: https://reliefweb.int/topics/covid-19
  • The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) – COVID-19 Outbreak Readiness and Response: https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/covid-19-outbreak-readiness-and-response-0
  • UN issues $6.7 billion appeal to protect millions of lives and stem the spread of COVID-19 in fragile countries (7 May 2020): https://www.unocha.org/story/un-issues-67-billion-appeal-protect-millions-lives-and-stem-spread-covid-19-fragile-countries
• Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
  • COVID-19 and its human rights dimensions: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/COVID-19.aspx
• UN WOMEN
  • In Focus: Gender equality matters in COVID-19 response: https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/in-focus-gender-equality-in-covid-19-response
• United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)
  • COVID-19 Campaign: Take action with us in cities and communities: https://unhabitat.org/covid-19
  • UN-Habitat COVID-19 Response Plan: https://unhabitat.org/un-habitat-covid-19-response-plan
  • COVID-19 tracker for cities: https://unhabitat.citiiq.com/
• United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs / UN-SPIDER
  • Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): https://un-spider.org/advisory-support/emergency-support/covid-19
• Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
  • COVID-19 and HIV: https://www.unaids.org/en/covid19
  • Opinion: Successful global epidemic responses put people at the centre (12 March 2020): https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/featurestories/2020/march/20200312_covid-19
• United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)
  • UNCDF Response to COVID-19: https://www.uncdf.org/article/5452/covid-19
• United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
  • COVID-19 response: https://unctad.org/programme/covid-19-response
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
  • COVID-19 pandemic: https://www.undp.org/coronavirus
  • COVID-19 Global Gender Response Tracker: https://data.undp.org/gendertracker/
  • 3 years of COVID, 3 myths to debunk (March 2023):
    https://stories.undp.org/3-years-of-covid-3-myths-to-debunk
  • What’s Next? Boldly re-imagining life in a post-pandemic world: https://www.undp.org/stories/whats-next
  • COVID-19 & Poverty: How the coronavirus is going to affect the fight against poverty: https://feature.undp.org/covid-and-poverty/
  • COVID-19 and the SDGs: How the ‘roadmap for humanity’ could be changed by a pandemic: https://feature.undp.org/covid-19-and-the-sdgs/
  • Coronavirus vs. inequality: How we’ll pay vastly different costs for the COVID-19 pandemic: https://feature.undp.org/coronavirus-vs-inequality/
  • Emerging stronger and better: Twelve months, twelve lessons from the pandemic: https://feature.undp.org/emerging-stronger-and-better/
  • UNDP Transparency Portal – COVID-19 Response: https://open.undp.org/our-approaches/undpcr
  • COVID-19: New UNDP data dashboards reveal huge disparities among countries in ability to cope and recover (29 April 2020): https://bit.ly/3BZo11u
  • Global Dashboard for Vaccine Equity (launched 22 July 2021): https://data.undp.org/vaccine-equity/
• United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)
  • The ripple effect of Covid-19: https://www.undrr.org/drr-and-covid-19
• United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)
  • COVID-19 Response: https://www.uneca.org/eca-covid-19-response
  • Africa Knowledge Hub on COVID-19: https://knowledge.uneca.org/covid19/
• United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
  • Coronavirus Advisory: https://www.unece.org/covid-19.html
  • COVID-19 News & Press Releases: https://unece.org/press-covid-19
• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
  • COVID-19 materials from UNEP: https://www.unep.org/covid-19
• United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)
  • COVID-19: https://www.unescap.org/covid19
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
  • COVID-19 Recovery: https://www.unesco.org/en/covid-19
• United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA)
  • Prevalence of COVID-19 in the Arab Region: https://publications.unescwa.org/projects/covid-19/index.html
  • Socioeconomic Impact of COVID-19: Policy Briefs: https://www.unescwa.org/
    publications/socioeconomic-impact-covid-19-policy-briefs
• United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
  • COVID-19 pandemic: https://www.unfpa.org/covid19
  • COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.unfpa.org/covid-19-FAQs
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
  • Public health during COVID-19: https://www.unhcr.org/what-we-do/protect-human-rights/public-health/public-health-during-covid-19
  • Operational Data Portal – COVID-19:
    https://data.unhcr.org/en/situations/covid-19
  • COVID-19 situation: https://reporting.unhcr.org/covid-19
  • refworld Special Feature on COVID-19: https://www.refworld.org/covid19.html
  • Q&A: ‘Including refugees in the vaccine rollout is key to ending the pandemic’ (14 January 2021): https://www.unhcr.org/news/latest/2021/1/5fff1afe4/
• United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
  • COVID-19 response – Resources and information about UNICEF’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic: https://www.unicef.org/coronavirus/covid-19
  • Data to inform the COVID-19 response – Interactive data visualizations (April 2020): https://data.unicef.org/resources/data-to-inform-the-covid-19-response/
  • UNICEF launches the COVID-19 vaccine market dashboard (21 December 2020): https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/unicef-launches-covid-19-vaccine-market-dashboard
  • Protecting the most vulnerable children from the impact of coronavirus: An agenda for action (3 April 2020): https://www.unicef.org/coronavirus/agenda-for-action
  • Fact or fiction: How much do you know about the coronavirus disease (COVID-19)? https://www.unicef.org/coronavirus/fact-or-fiction-how-much-do-you-actually-know-about-coronavirus-covid-19
  • Interim Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention and Control in Schools – From UNICEF, the World Health Organization and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies: https://www.unicef.org/reports/key-messages-actions-coronavirus-disease-prevention-control-schools
• United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI)
  • UNICRI’S Work to Address COVID-19 and its Exploitation by Criminal and Terrorist Groups: http://www.unicri.it/COVID19_landing_page
• United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
  • Building a better future: https://www.unido.org/our-focus/building-a-better-future
• United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
  • Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) – UNODC updates: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/covid-19.html
  • Wildlife trafficking harms animals and human health – the case of Pangolins (22 April 2020): https://www.unodc.org/unodc/frontpage/2020/April/wildlife-trafficking-harms-animals-and-human-health—the-case-of-pangolins.html
• United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
  • COVID-19: Stay up-to-date with the latest on UNOPS support to response efforts: https://www.unops.org/news-and-stories/news/covid-19-stay-up-to-date-with-the-latest-on-unops-support-to-response-efforts
  • UNOPS pledges its support to help tackle the Coronavirus crisis (24 March 2020): https://www.unops.org/news-and-stories/news/unops-pledges-its-support-to-help-tackle-the-coronavirus-crisis
• United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD)
  • • UNRISD Covid-19 Series: https://www.unrisd.org/en/library/blog-series/unrisd-covid-19-series
      In this blog series, authors explore the uneven distribution of impacts of both the pandemic and the crisis response, as well as the social, political and economic drivers of these disparities. The series engages UNRISD’s networks and draws on its vast body of social development research to provide evidence-based responses to the current crisis as it develops and suggest viable strategies for a future where similar crises are not only less devastating, but also less likely to happen.
• United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
  • UNRWA responds to COVID-19: https://www.unrwa.org/covid_19
• United Nations University (UNU)
  • Real-time Research – COVID-19 Response: https://unu.edu/covid-19
  • UNU-CRIS: Call for Blog Contributions: Regional Dimension of the COVID-19 Response: http://cris.unu.edu/covid19discussion
  • UNU-WIDER joins research consortium to launch survey on COVID-19 (31 March 2020): https://lifewithcorona.org/
  • UNU Evidence, Policy, and Interventions for COVID-19 Tracker (UNU EPIC Tracker): https://epictracker.org/
• United Nations Volunteers (UNV)
  • UNV’s COVID-19 pandemic response: https://www.unv.org/UNVs-COVID-19-pandemic-response
  • Volunteering online during lockdown to fight COVID-19 (8 May 2020): https://www.unv.org/News/Volunteering-online-during-lockdown-fight-COVID-19
  • UNV invests in COVID-19 response (11 April 2020): https://www.unv.org/Success-stories/UNV-invests-COVID-19-response
• World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
  • Tourism and COVID-19 – Guiding tourism’s recovery: https://www.unwto.org/tourism-covid-19
• Universal Postal Union (UPU)
  • COVID-19: Information and updates from the UPU: https://www.upu.int/en/Postal-Solutions/COVID-19
• World Food Programme (WFP)
  • WFP and COVID-19: https://cdn.wfp.org/2020/covid19-response/
• World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
  • WIPO’s COVID-19 Related Services and Support: https://www.wipo.int/covid-19/en/
• World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19): https://public.wmo.int/en/resources/coronavirus-covid-19
• World Trade Organization (WTO)
  • COVID-19 and world trade: https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/covid19_e/covid19_e.htm
  • WTO-IMF COVID-19 Vaccine Trade Tracker:
    https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/covid19_e/vaccine_trade_tracker_e.htm
• World Bank
  • The World Bank Group’s Response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) Pandemic: https://www.worldbank.org/en/who-we-are/news/coronavirus-covid19

Further Information

• UN documents on the topic “COVID-19” : https://digitallibrary.un.org/search?ln=en&as=0&p=subjectheading:[COVID-19]
• Coronavirus global health emergency: Coverage from UN News
  https://news.un.org/en/events/coronavirus-global-health-emergency-coverage-un-news
  This page brings together information and guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations regarding the current outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that was first reported in Wuhan, China, on 31 December 2019. Please visit this page for daily updates. WHO is working closely with global experts, governments and partners to rapidly expand scientific knowledge on this new virus, to track the spread and virulence of the virus, and to provide advice to countries and individuals on measures to protect health and prevent the spread of this outbreak.
• United Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law
  “International Law and Infectious Disease Control”, lecture by Professor Gian Luca Burci, Former Legal Counsel of the WHO: https://legal.un.org/avl/ls/Burci_HS.html

19 December 2023
not an official document – for information only
https://unric.org/en/unric-library-backgrounder-novel-coronavirus/