Briefings
2020 has been a year like no other. COVID-19 has changed the world profoundly, with a death toll of over 1.6 million people and counting. The full extent of the pandemic’s impact – economic, social, health – will not be known for many years. What is clear today is that the coronavirus has reached nearly every ...
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“This is no time for complacency, especially with the holiday season approaching…We all need to consider whose life we might be gambling with in the decisions we make… Even if we can’t celebrate as normal this year, make a plan to celebrate with your family and friends once it’s safe to do so. We ...
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“We might be tired of COVID-19. But it is not tired of us. It pays no heed to political rhetoric or conspiracy theories. Our only hope is science, solutions, and solidarity.” Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO) November has been a tumultuous month on the international stage. With cases of COVID-19 rising exponentially ...
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“The fight back against this pandemic is everyone’s business. We cannot have the economic recovery we want and live our lives the way we did before the pandemic. We can keep our kids in school, we can keep businesses open, we can preserve lives and livelihoods. We can do it! But we must all ...
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World Mental Health Day was Saturday, October 10 – a reminder that mental and emotional well-being are as important as physical health. This message is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has fueled anxiety and depression across the globe. Regrettably, “COVID-19 has interrupted essential mental health services around the world just when they’re ...
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“Responsible leadership matters. Science matters. Cooperation matters—and misinformation kills.” António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations The 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), held virtually for the first time, closed this week. Questions remain about how countries can support a global effort to improve the well-being of people around the world. With the COVID-19 ...
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Against the backdrop of the 75th United Nations General Assembly, now underway virtually, the COVID-19 pandemic continues its global spread. The UN General Assembly adopted an omnibus resolution on the COVID-19 response, supported by 169 member states, which calls for “intensified international cooperation and solidarity to contain, mitigate, and overcome the pandemic and its consequences.” The resolution ...
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