A checklist for COVID-2019 pandemic risk and impact management, Interim document – Version 1 - 27 February 2020

Abstract

Introduction: On 30 January 2020, the Director-General of WHO declared the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), following advice from the IHR Emergency Committee. On 4 February 2020, the Director-General of WHO briefed the Secretary-General of the United Nations and requested the activation of the United Nations crisis management policy to establish a Crisis Management Team (CMT) to coordinate the UN system-wide scale up to assist countries prepare for and respond to COVID‑19. A pandemic is the worldwide spread of a new disease. Pandemics are unpredictable but recurring events that can significantly affect health, communities and economies worldwide. Planning and preparation are critical to help mitigate the risk and impact of a pandemic, and to manage the response and recovery. Purpose: This document is a tool to help national authorities to develop or revise national pandemic preparedness and response plans to COVID‑19. This document has been developed to take into account the following pillars and based on the COVID-19 interim guidelines and the WHO guidance on topics related to pandemic influenza and public health emergency planning. Pillars: 1. Preparation for an emergency. 2. Surveillance, outbreak investigation and risk assessments. 3. Health services, clinical management and infection prevention and control. 4. Maintaining essential services and recovery. 5. Preventing illness in the community. How to use this document: Each section of this document presents a checklist of suggested planning actions that countries can take in order to be better prepared for a pandemic. This document is intended to be used by national authorities responsible for pandemic preparedness and response: ▪ Countries with an existing national pandemic preparedness plan can use this document as a guide when updating and revising their plan. ▪ Countries that do not have an existing national pandemic plan can use this document as a guide when developing a pandemic plan. ▪ All countries may consider coordinating capacity strengthening efforts across different initiatives by integrating national pandemic plans with other disease-specific preparedness and response plans.