This is a case-ascertained prospective investigation of all identified health care contacts working in a health care facility in which a laboratory confirmed 2019-nCoV infected patient (see 2.2 Study population) receives care. Note that this study can be done in health care facilities at all 3 level...s of a health system – not just in hospitals. It is intended to provide epidemiological and serologic information which will inform the identification of risk factors 2019-nCoV infection among health care workers.
There are three primary objectives of this investigation among health care workers in a health care setting where a 2019-nCoV infected patient is being cared for:
To better understand the extent of human-to-human transmission among health care workers, by estimating the secondary infection rate1 for health care worker contacts at an individual level.
To characterize the range of clinical presentation of infection and the risk factors for infection among health care workers.
To evaluate effectiveness of infection prevention and control measures among health care workers
To evaluate effectiveness of infection prevention and control programmes at health facility and national level
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The household transmission investigation is a case-ascertained prospective study of all identified household contacts of a laboratory confirmed 2019-nCoV infection (see 2.2 Study population). It is intended to provide rapid and early information on the clinical, epidemiological and virological chara...cteristics of 2019-nCoV.
There are three primary objectives of this household transmission study:
To better understand the extent of transmission within a household by estimating the secondary infection rate for household contacts at an individual level, and factors associated with any variation in the secondary infection risk.
To characterize secondary cases including the range of clinical presentation, risk factors for infection, and the extent and fraction of asymptomatic infections.
To characterize serologic response following confirmed 2019-nCoV infection (highly encouraged, but optional depending on laboratory capacity and resources)
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Interim Guidance 7 March 2020
This document provides technical guidance for government authorities, health workers, and other key stakeholders to guide response to community spread. It will be updated as new information or technical guidance become available. For countries that are already preparin...g or responding, this document can also serve as a checklist to identify any remaining gaps.
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Versión del 1 de abril de 2020
El flujo de migrantes y refugiados desde Venezuela constituye la mayor movilización de personas en la historia de Latinoamérica. Para el mes de marzo de 2020, más de 4.9 millones de venezolanos habían abandonado su país y de éstos, más 4.1 millones se h...an movilizado a países de Latinoamérica y el Caribe. Las motivaciones de esta movilización son diversas, pero destacan aquellas vinculadas a temas de atención en salud, entre las cuales se encuentra la condición de vivir con VIH/sida. En la coyuntura de demanda de atención que ha generado el COVID-19 es mucho más difícil que las personas que no están incluidas en los sistemas de salud de los países receptores reciban atención por las limitaciones que puede imponer su estatus migratorio.
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© Secretaría General de la Organización de los Estados Americanos 2020
Accessed: 10.04.2020
Women, the elderly, adolescents, youth, and children,
persons with disabilities, indigenous populations, refugees,
migrants, and minorities experience the highest degree
of socio-economic marginalization. Marginalized people
become even more vulnerable in emergencies.1 This is due
to factors su...ch as their lack of access to effective surveillance
and early-warning systems, and health services. The
COVID-19 outbreak is predicted to have significant impacts
on various sectors.
The populations most at risk are those that:
• depend heavily on the informal economy;
• occupy areas prone to shocks;
• have inadequate access to social services or political
influence;
• have limited capacities and opportunities to cope and
adapt and;
• limited or no access to technologies.
By understanding these issues, we can support the capacity
of vulnerable populations in emergencies. We can give
them priority assistance, and engage them in decision-making
processes for response, recovery, preparedness, and
risk reduction.
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Refugees and migrants face similar health threats from COVID-19 as their host populations. However, inadequate access to essential services and exclusion may makes early detection, testing, diagnosis, contact tracing and seeking care for COVID-19 difficult for refugees and migrants thus increasing t...he risk of outbreaks in these population and presenting an additional threat to public health. This document offers guidance to Member States and partners for the inclusion of refugees and migrants, as part of holistic efforts to respond to COVID-19 epidemics in the general populations.
17 April 2020
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The role of environmental contamination in transmission of COVID-19 virus is currently not clear. This protocol has been designed to determine (viable) virus presence and persistence on fomites in various locations where a patient infected with COVID-19 is currently receiving care or being isolated,... and to understand how this may relate to COVID-19 transmission events in these settings. It is therefore important that it is done as part of a comprehensive outbreak investigation and that information obtained by environmental studies is combined with the results of epidemiological, laboratory and sequence data from COVID-19 patient investigations.
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This regional technical guidance note was developed for the UNFPA Asia-Pacific Regional Office (APRO) and Asia-Pacific Country Offices to provide guidance on older persons, health workers, and caregivers in the contexts of COVID-19 to effectively support each member state and work with other partner...s in preparing for and responding to the COVID-19 epidemic.
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Information on what is Coronavirus or COVID-19 and how it is spread, along with advice on what older people can do to reduce their risk of catching the virus, and what they should do if they need medical help or support
Accessed: 21.04.2020
La llegada de COVID-19 a Colombia motivó la declaración de Emergencia Social, Económica y Ecológica y el establecimiento del aislamiento preventivo obligatorio. El aumento de casos activos en el país resalta la importancia de implementar acciones que reduzcan la probabil...idad de contagio en los espacios donde se prestan servicios a la población en general, y, con mayor énfasis, a las poblaciones vulnerables como refugiados y migrantes.
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Accessed: 25.04.2020
El presente documento tiene por objeto brindar a las autoridades competentes algunas recomendaciones prácticas para reducir el impacto de la pandemia del virus responsable de la COVID-19 (“la pandemia”) en lugares de detención. El Comité Internacional de la Cruz Roja (...CICR) reconoce que la prevención y el control de la pandemia resulta compleja y ha puesto a prueba a toda la sociedad y los sistemas de salud del mundo y la región. La falta de preparación, así como de recursos humanos, materiales, y financieros puede dificultar la respuesta a las necesidades de las personas que sufren de la enfermedad y la contención de la pandemia. Igualmente, se comprende que los lugares de detención, en particular aquellos donde existe sobrepoblación podrían ser espacios proclives a una rápida propagación del virus.
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Accessed: 27.04.2020
La crisis de refugiados y migrantes de Venezuela en la región se encuentra ante un nuevo desafío con la llegada del COVID-19. Esta población se ve particularmente afectada por las condiciones en las que se encuentran, en especial quienes están en zonas de frontera. El aut...oaislamiento, las medidas de higiene y el conseguir ingresos para el día a día representan una limitación evidente que está generando situaciones de calle, desplazamiento intra e inter fronteras, y exposición al COVID. Esta situación extrema inclusive está forzando a algunas familias a retornar a Venezuela.
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Esta nota de instrução resume as principais considerações em Saúde Mental e Apoio Psicossocial (SMAPS) referen-tes ao novo surto de coronavírus (COVID-19). Este documento foi atualizado pela última vez em 17 de março de 2020.
While much progress has been achieved over the past year, the Region of the Americas has stubbornly remained the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. PAHO is launching its 2021 COVID-19 Response Strategy and Donor Appeal to continue supporting Latin American and Caribbean countries and territories i...n their fight against COVID-19. This document outlines PAHO’s regional strategy for the year 2021 to sustain and scale-up the response to COVID‑19 pandemic in the Americas, suppress the community transmission of the virus and mitigate the longer-term health impact of the pandemic.
US$ 239 million is needed to support critical response efforts in the Americas between 1 January and 31 December 2021
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Concentrations of the major greenhouse gases, CO2 , CH4 , and N2 O, continued to increase despite the temporary reduction in emissions in 2020 related to measures taken in response to COVID-19.
2020 was one of the three warmest years on record. The past six years, including 2020, have been the si...x warmest years on record. Temperatures reached 38.0 °C at Verkhoyansk, Russian Federation on 20 June, the highest recorded temperature anywhere north of the Arctic Circle.
The trend in sea-level rise is accelerating. In addition, ocean heat storage and acidification are increasing, diminishing the ocean’s capacity to moderate climate change.
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Sustainability 2020, 12, 1025