Critical preparedness, readiness and response actions for COVID-19: interim guidance, 19 March 2020

This document is an update to the interim guidance document entitled ‘Critical preparedness, readiness and response actions for COVID-19.’ This version provides updated links to WHO guidance materials and provides the full list of WHO technical guidance available for COVID-19.

Several countries have demonstrated that COVID-19 transmission from one person to another can be slowed or stopped. These actions have saved lives and have provided the rest of the world with more time to prepare for the arrival of COVID-19: to ready emergency response systems; to increase capacity to detect and care for patients; to ensure hospitals have the space, supplies, and necessary personnel; and to develop life-saving medical interventions. Every country should urgently take all necessary measures to slow further spread and to avoid their health systems becoming overwhelmed as a result of seriously ill patients with COVID-19.