11. WHO, ECDC and European agencies guidelines

 The World Health Organisation (WHO) works with 194 Member States, across six regions, and from more than 150 offices, striving to combat diseases. WHO is producing a broad range of resources including advice for the public, technical guidance, media resources, and collating research findings.

The WHO Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe) is one of WHO’s six regional offices around the world.

 The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is an agency of the European Union aimed at strengthening Europe's defences against infectious diseases. ECDC is providing risk assessments, public health guidance, and advice on response activities to EU Member States and the EU Commission.

A selection of the relevant information from both of these authoritative organisations is included in this section.

WHO Europe: When might the pandemic might end? 

WHO Europe resources

When might the pandemic end?

WHO and ECDC guidelines_63

A new series of WHO/Europe video explainers addresses why it is important to get vaccinated against COVID19 and why it still matters to follow personal protective measures even after getting vaccinated. In this episode, WHO/Europe's Dr Catherine Smallwood answers the questions: - What is the COVID-19 situation in the WHO European Region? - Do we know when the pandemic might end? - How can we protect ourselves, our family and our community over the winter season?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0oOBLm_06E 

Taking a balanced and risk-based approach to COVID-19 prevention measures this winter 

Celebrating the CSO Initiative: building community readiness, response and resilience to emergencies 

WHO Europe resources 

WHO Europe resources

COVID-19 Health System Response Monitor

The Health System Response Monitor (HSRM) has been designed in response to the COVID-19 outbreak to collect and organize up-to-date information on how countries are responding to the crisis. It focuses primarily on the responses of health systems but also captures wider public health initiatives. This is a joint undertaking of the WHO Regional Office for Europe, the European Commission, and the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies.

 COUNTRIES (Select a country to access up-to-date information on health system responses and other public health initiatives related to the COVID-19 crisis)

 COMPARE COUNTRY RESPONSES (Select different countries and compare their responses to the COVID-19 crisis)

 IMPORTANT REFERENCES (Important links and articles related to the COVID-19 crisis)

Find here the COVID-19 Health System Response Monitor 

More WHO Europe resources

 Supporting older people during the COVID-19 pandemic is everyone’s business - WHO Europe – Health emergencies.

 Read statement and view video on section "Older aldults" 

WHO resources 

WHO resources

COVID-19 rehabilitation patient leaflet hugely popular

September 22, 2022

Recognizing early that rehabilitation would be essential for many in their recovery from COVID-19 infection, WHO/Europe quickly convened experts and people recovering from COVID-19 to produce the patient leaflet ‘Support for rehabilitation: self-management after COVID-19-related illness’.

The resource provides evidence-based support and advice for adults who are recovering from COVID-19, whether hospitalized or not. It compliments care received from health care professionals and can be tailored to an individual’s needs. The leaflet provides information for patients on considerations for their rehabilitation on a wide range of areas, such as managing breathlessness, physical activity and exercise, energy conservation and fatigue. There is also a helpful symptom tracker.

 See section 'First response and mental wellbeing ' 

(Click to view resources)

 'Doing What Matters in Times of Stress '
An Illustrated Guide
April 29, 2020
Doing What Matters in Times of Stress: An Illustrated Guide is a stress management guide for coping with adversity. The guide aims to equip people with practical skills to help cope with stress. A few minutes each day are enough to practice the self-help techniques. The guide can be used alone or with the accompanying audio exercises.
Download guide here 

 Risk Communication Package for Healthcare Facilities 

 Mental Health Considerations during COVID-19 outbreak 

 Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public: Myth busters 

 'My Hero is You, How kids can fight COVID-19! '
Produced through a collaboration of more than 50 organizations working in the humanitarian sector as part of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings co-chaired by WHO
All languages versions 

Parenting in the time of COVID-19

WHO – Advocacy

To help parents interact constructively with their children during this time of confinement, these six one-page tips for parents cover planning one-on-one time, staying positive, creating a daily routine, avoiding bad behaviour, managing stress, and talking about COVID-19.

Basic Psychosocial Skills: A guide for COVID-19 Responders

June 1,2020

This Guide aims to help orient people supporting the COVID-19 response to integrate psychosocial support skills into their daily work, thereby making a difference to the well-being of people they come into contact with during the pandemic. More specifically, the Guide is intended for health and social workers; emergency responders; people working in food stores, public transport, funeral parlours and pharmacies; employers and managers; and people who are providing support to vulnerable family members or members of their community.

The illustrated chapters provide practical advice for taking care of one’s own mental well-being, communicating with empathy, and helping people suffering from stress or severe distress. Case studies and tips to remember are included throughout.

Guide can be downloaded from WHO website here 

March 10, 2020

Video:

Q&A on COVID19 and mental health

Recorded version of the live Q&A on mental health during COVID-19, with Aiysha Malik, Mental Health expert at WHO speaking with Sari Setiogi, Head of WHO's Social Media and Media Monitoring.

The live show was broadcast on 10 March 2020.

Watch video on YouTube  

WHO’s 7 policy recommendations on building resilient health systems

WHO has released a position paper on building health systems resilience towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and health security during COVID-19 and beyond  to reinforce the urgent need for renewed and heightened national and global commitment to make countries better prepared and health systems resilient against all forms of public health threats for sustained progress towards both UHC and health security. This requires an integrated approach to building and rebuilding health systems that serve the needs of the population, before, during and after public health emergencies.

Read more 

More WHO resources

 'COVID-19 and violence against women ’ . WHO – Advocacy.

 ‘What can you do to fight stigma associated with COVID19?’. WHO – Advice for public

 ‘Preparedness, prevention and control of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) for refugees and migrants in non-camp settings – Interim guidance’ . WHO – Emergencies)

 ‘COVID-19: How to include marginalized and vulnerable people in risk communication and community engagement’?'. WHO – Emergencies

 see section 'Support for professionals - Human Rights and Psychology' 

Launch of new Covid19 guide for youth - A new rapid-response guide for youth ages 8–17

Source: here 

The guide, which is based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, aims to help young people understand the science and social science of COVID-19 as well as help them take actions to keep themselves, their families and communities safe.

The guide is free, will be available to youth in more than 15 languages, particularly African and Asian languages, and can be found here 

The guide includes updated research, activities, quotes from scientists and frontline public health officials, and physical and emotional safety tips on COVID-19. It also integrates inquiry-based science education with social and emotional learning and civic engagement.

Launch of new Covid19 guide for youth - A new rapid-response guide for youth ages 8–17

Source: here 

The guide is free, will be available to youth in more than 15 languages, particularly African and Asian languages, and can be found here 

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) resources 

ECDC - European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control - resources

Click to view resource:

 Online micro learning activities on non-pharmaceutical countermeasures in relation to COVID-19 

 COVID-19 section 

Contact tracing; Public health management of persons, including healthcare workers – like psychologists - having had contact with COVID-19 cases in the EU 

ECDC - European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control - resources

Contact tracing; Public health management of persons, including healthcare workers – like psychologists - having had contact with COVID-19 cases in the EU

 Technical report :
this document aims to help EU/EEA public health authorities in the tracing and management of persons, including healthcare workers, who had contact with COVID-19 cases. It outlines the key steps of contact tracing, including contact identification, listing and follow-up, in the context of the COVID-19 response. View document here 

 Infographic:
COVID-19 contact tracing is a core public health response to COVID-19. Other measures include active case finding or physical distancing. View poster here 

Living, working and COVID-19
Working life in the COVID-19 pandemic 2021 

Living, working and COVID-19.

September 28, 2020

This report presents the findings of the Living, working and COVID-19 e-survey, carried out by Eurofound to capture the far-reaching implications of the pandemic for the way people live and work across Europe. The survey was fielded online, among respondents who were reached via Eurofound’s stakeholders and social media advertising. Two rounds of the e-survey have been carried out to date: one in April, when most Member States were in lockdown, and one in July, when society and economies were slowly re-opening.

The findings of the e-survey from the first round reflected widespread emotional distress, financial concern and low levels of trust in institutions. Levels of concern abated somewhat in the second round, particularly among groups of respondents who were benefiting from support measures implemented during the pandemic. At the same time, the results underline stark differences between countries and between socioeconomic groups that point to growing inequalities.

The results confirm the upsurge in teleworking across all countries during the COVID-19 pandemic that has been documented elsewhere, and the report explores what this means for work–life balance and elements of job quality.

Report can be downloaded here 

Working life in the COVID-19 pandemic 2021

May 19, 2022

This publication consists of individual country reports on working life during 2021 for 28 countries – the 27 EU Member States and Norway. The country reports summarise evidence on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on working life based on national research and survey results during 2021. They outline the policy responses of governments and social partners in their efforts to cushion the socioeconomic effects and include a focus on policy areas related to adapting to the pandemic and the return to work. This includes in particular a focus on new health and safety arrangements at work, new work arrangements, policies to address labour shortages and wages and wage setting. The reports also explore the impact of the pandemic on social dialogue, collective bargaining and industrial action.

Report can be downloaded here 

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11. WHO, ECDC and European agencies guidelines

WHO and ECDC guidelines

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