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.

Joint ECDC-WHO Regional Office for Europe Weekly COVID-19 Surveillance Bulletin 

WHO:

"COVID-19 no longer a global health emergency "

May 5, 2023



WHO says COVID-19 is no longer a "public health emergency of international concern"

On May 5, 2023, the WHO ended the 'global health emergency' designation for COVID-19 determining that COVID-19 is now an established and ongoing health issue which no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). WHO stresses that the "work is not over" and said that the challenge was now to sustain and maintain increased access to healthcare across the globe.

Read more 

Statement by President von der Leyen on the end of the COVID-19 pandemic

Following the WHO statement, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen issued a statement noting the heavy toll the pandemic had taken, at the same time remarking "This pandemic changed the face of the EU, which has become a true European Health Union. We are now far better prepared to face future health crises, with new tools to react quickly to emerging health crises."

Read more 

WHO Europe: When might the pandemic 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 

WHO resources 

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" 

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 

 Table of Contents

11. WHO, ECDC and European agencies guidelines

WHO and ECDC guidelines

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WHO and ECDC guidelines