State of the Pandemic, World Health Organization, Lancet, Food Insecurity, Global Governance, Africa, China, Global, Japan, South Korea, United States
development

Organisations. World Health Organization WHO, Lancet
Period. 11 - 13 May 2020
  • A new WHO study projects that up to 190,000 people in Africa could die and an additional 29-44 million could get infected by the Coronavirus in the first year if containment measures fail.
  • Harvard Professor Joseph Nye – one of the world’s leading scholars on global governance- examines the “abysmal failure of leadership” from the U.S. and China, urging that more global solidarity and recognition of mutual interest is essential to address the pandemic
  • In collaboration with DIGHR, the Ilisaqsivik Society, and Médecins Sans Frontières (Latin), SeeChange Initiative is launching a Community Roadmap planning tool today to support communities organize, prepare and respond to COVID-19. See:
    • CommunityFirst COVID-19 Emergency Readiness Checklist
    • What the Covid-19 pandemic is teaching us about community (STAT)
  • In a commentary, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Kailash Satyarthi, highlights the compassionate work of community and civil-society groups working with vulnerable populations, urging G20 to increase international aid and coordination through UN agencies like WHO, UNICEF and UNOCHA.
  • A study in Lancet Global Health projects an additional 0.25-1.2 million children under 5 could die indirectly in the next six months as a result of the pandemic though disruption of health systems and decreased access to food. This would be the first increase in global child mortality since World War II. The researchers from Johns Hopkins also estimate that indirect maternal deaths could rise from 8% to 38%.
  • An analysis by the New York Times reveals spikes in fatalities across Latin America (including Brazil, Ecuador and Peru) that exceed the worst pandemic trajectories in Europe and the U.S. The Brazilian president, when asked about the death toll, replied “So what? What do you want me to do?”.
  • Amazon indigenous leaders warn of the potentially devastating effects of COVID-19 (New Humanitarian), where “no specific attention has been given to indigenous communities”.In Brazil, the potential effects highlight the lack of government support with food and health services. The former health minister of Ecuador, meanwhile, warns that “everyone is at risk” if marginalized communities are not able to afford basic health services, while officials in Mexico suggest that thousands of deaths are not being reported, obscuring the true toll of the COVID-19 epidemic.
  • China, South Korea and Japan are experiencing a resurgence in COVID cases, as the WHO and public health experts warn against lifting containment measures too early (CNBC)
    • Authorities in Wuhan plan to test all 11 million residents over the next ten days after discovering new infections for the first time since its lockdown was lifted, prioritizing vulnerable groups and high-density areas (BBC)
  • Exceptionally heavy seasonal rains across East Africa since late April have resulted in widespread floods that caused a heavy loss of life and property, compounding the risks to human health and food security from the COVID-19 pandemic and the most serious desert locust invasion in decades. (WMO)
  • COVID­19 epitomises why a “One Health” approach – which recognises the fundamental interconnectedness of humans, animals, and their shared environment-  is key to ensuring the healthy and sustainable future of the planet. co­Chairs of the Lancet One Health Commission are  calling for a COVID-19 One Health Research Coalition (Lancet)

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