This document summarizes the COVID-19 situation globally and in the Eastern Mediterranean region as of October 2020. It discusses key factors impacting COVID-19 transmission in the region like migrant workers, travel restrictions, fragility and conflict, mass gatherings, and demographics. It outlines achievements in expanding testing capacity, building on existing systems, and logistics support. It also notes challenges around IPC practices, lack of national programs, limited public health measures, and difficulty sustaining behavior changes. The document requests that ministers prioritize COVID-19 response, invest in health systems and preparedness, and engage all relevant sectors. It provides three recommendations for member states around implementing multi-sectoral plans, providing evidence-based public information,

1. 1
COVID-19 Pandemic in the Eastern
Mediterranean Region
67th Session of the Regional Committee for the
Eastern Mediterranean
12-13 October 2020

2. 2
COVID-19 Pandemic: Global Situation as of 7 October 2020 (6:00 pm)
Cumulative Total confirmed: 37 423 660
Total deaths: 1 074 817 (2.9%)
USA: 7 636 803 (deaths: 212 804)
India: 7 120 538 (deaths: 109 150)
Brazil: 5 082 637 (deaths: 150 198)

3. COVID-19 Outbreak Evolution and Epi in EMR (weeks 10-40)
* The graph presented above is calculated
based on 5 weeks moving average of cases
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
29-Jan-20 29-Feb-20 31-Mar-20 30-Apr-20 31-May-20 30-Jun-20 31-Jul-20 31-Aug-20 30-Sep-20
Numberofcases
Date of reporting
Afghanistan
Bahrain
Djibouti
Egypt
Iran
Iraq
Jordan
Kuwait
Lebanon
Libya
Morocco
occupied Palestinian territory
Oman
Pakistan
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Somalia
Sudan
Syrian Arab Republic
Tunisia
United Arab Emirates
Yemen
Cumulative:
Total cases: 2 636 722
Total deaths: 67 222 (CFR 2.5%)
Countries reported cases: 22

4. EMR Countries with Increasing Trends EMR Countries with Decreasing Trends
* The graphs presented above are calculated
based on 5 weeks moving average of cases
COVID-19 Pandemic in EMR: Countries with different epidemiological trends
EMR Countries with Sustained Transmission Trend

5. 5
Migrant Workers
Early Application of
Travel and Social
Restrictions
State Fragility
and Conflict
Mass Gatherings
and Pilgrimages
Demographics
EMR-specific Factors Impacting Transmission

6. 6
• 400+ labs at national and sub-national levels
• Laboratory community of practice
• Quality control at national & subnational levels
• Whole-of-government and whole-of society approach
• SPRP linked to global and regional plan
• Regional dimension – Ministerial Group on COVID-19
• Influenza surveillance (SARI/ILI) system in 19 countries
• Polio assets, including and 1,238 staff in 6 countries
• Rapid response teams (RRTs) in 22 countries
• Tackling the market failures
• 324 shipments to 108 countries from Dubai hub
• 1,600,000 kg of supplies and equipment
01 Responsible leadership and
coordination
03
Building on existing systems
and disaster management
expertise
04 Logistics support
02 Expanding testing capacities
Achievements and Lessons Learned

7. 7
What has not gone so well?
IPC practices
33,000+ healthcare worker
infections
Lack of national and
facility-based programmes
Limited
PH
measures
at subnational
level
Behaviour
changedifficult to
achieve, due to “COVID
fatigue,” misinformation
(e.g. masks, social
distancing)
Ensuring relaxation of social
measures is informed by
public health evidence

8. 8
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
States Parties Annual Reporting
IHR Scores- 2018 IHR Scores 2019
Insufficient investment
Regional average = 63%
Global average = 64%
Change 2018-19
Improve = 5
Stable = 3
Decrease = 5
JEE in 18 countries
NAPHS in 18 countries
Limited implementation: political will and finance biggest challenges
Opportunity to update
• lessons learned from COVID
• outcomes of intra-action reviews (planned for 5 countries)
• integration with health system strengthening
COVID-19: A stress test for IHR Core Capacities &
Emergency Preparedness

9. 9
Procedures
under IHR
• Varied capacities
• Turnover
• Line of communication
IHR NFP
• Data quality, comprehensiveness, sharing varies +++
• Poor compliance with IHR Articles 6-11
Information Sharing
• Decisions not informed by risk assessment
• Blanket closure of borders
• Suspensions of seafarers
Travel
• Decision not informed by risk assessment
• Interruption of trade
• Impact on logistics and supply system
Trade
Compliance with IHR during the response
• All MS applied additional health measures
• Not consistently based on scientific evidence or adherent to Articles 30-32
• 3 of 22 states informed WHO of additional measures as per Article 43

10. 1010
• Priortise COVID-19 response – resist complacency & fatigue
 Prevent amplifying events
 Protect vulnerable groups
 Engage communities for behavior change
 Scale up further the coverage, quality and monitoring of PH measures
 Maintain and expand essential health services
• Invest in health systems and preparedness - it pays off
 COVID costs approx. $21 trillion
 Annual investments in preparedness = $40 billion
 Update NAPHS informed by COVID
• Engage all relevant sectors - health cannot do it alone
 Collaboration essential for controlling COVID, strengthening health systems and
preparing for future events
 The spirit of Health for All, by All
Requests to Ministers

11. 11
01
Implement and regularly update national multi-
sectoral COVID-19 action plans based on the
specific context, priorities and epidemiological
situation, while taking into account the needs and
vulnerabilities of all population groups
02
Provide timely, culturally and evidence-based
information to the community, including on
relevant risks and measures that they can take to
protect themselves; engage communities in all
aspects of preparedness and response; and
actively address rumours, misinformation and
stigmatization
03 Develop and maintain national capacities for the
early identification, testing, isolation and care of all
cases, and for the tracing and quarantining of all
contacts, including at points of entry and in the
event of lifting or reinstating public health and social
measures;
Recommendations for Member States