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Statement by WHO's Regional Director on the need for continued vigilance during the COVID-19 pandemic
29 July 2020 – Today, 29 July, marks exactly 6 months since the first COVID-19 case was reported in WHO's Eastern Mediterranean Region. We saw slow initial progress after the first cases were identified in February, but then witnessed an acceleration in May and a peak in cases by the end of June – most likely due to countries relaxing social...
Safe practices during Eid al-Adha in the context of COVID-19
28 July 2020 – On the occasion of the Muslim feast of Eid al-Adha, WHO has issued interim guidance entitled "Eid al-Adha safe practices in the context of COVID-19 pandemic". The document highlights public health advice for social and religious practices and gatherings during Eid al-Adha that can be applied across different national contexts. The...
Member States must take action to ensure the safety and health of migrant and displaced populations, warn WHO and IOM
Statement by the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Mrs Carmela Godeau To effectively tackle COVID-19 and other public health threats, universal health coverage needs to...
One million patients reported as recovered from COVID-19 in WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region
19 July 2020, Cairo, Egypt – More than one million patients in countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region have successfully recovered from COVID-19 since the first case was reported on 29 January 2020. “This is a welcome and significantly positive milestone, and reflects the efforts made by countries to protect their populations during these...
Statement by WHO's Regional Director on the evolving COVID-19 pandemic in the Region
16 July 2020 – The current situation in the Eastern Mediterranean Region remains alarming. This week, cases increased by 10% from last week, with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Iran and Iraq reporting almost 70% of all cases. Deaths in the Region also increased by 13%, with the occupied Palestinian territory, Syrian Arab Republic and...
Statement by WHO's Regional Director on maintaining routine influenza surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic
13 July 2020 – Influenza surveillance systems in the Eastern Mediterranean Region have proven to be invaluable in supporting the detection of suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19. Within the existing influenza surveillance systems, health workers collect samples from patients seeking treatment for influenza-like illnesses and severe acute...
Africa records over 500 000 COVID-19 cases
Brazzaville/Cairo, 8 July 2020 – COVID-19 infections in Africa today surpassed 500 000, and there is concern as a growing number of countries are experiencing a sharp rise in cases. So far, in less than 5 months, the virus has claimed 11 959 lives, overtaking the 11 308 lives lost in the world’s worst Ebola outbreak in West Africa between 2014 and...
COVID-19 presents opportunities for greater collaboration on the SDGS, says WHO’s Regional Director
8 July 2020 – At a recent webinar on the Region’s response to COVID-19, organized by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and WHO, the WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari said that the COVID-19 pandemic had presented an opportunity for greater collaboration between all sectors to work...
Statement by WHO Regional Director Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari on COVID-19
Yesterday, 30 June marked six months since WHO received the first reports of a cluster of cases of pneumonia of unknown cause in China The six-month mark of the outbreak coincides with reaching 10 million cases and 500,000 deaths world-wide. Although many countries have made some progress, globally the pandemic is speeding up. A few days ago, our...
Joining forces to manage the ‘infodemic’
29 June 2020 – In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the phenomenon of an ‘infodemic’ has escalated to a level that requires a coordinated response. As WHO’s Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, warned the world of this threat of an ‘infodemic’, it is getting harder for people to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance...
