Public health and social measures for COVID-19 preparedness and response in low capacity and humanitarian settings

Overview

People affected by humanitarian crises and those living in low capacity settings are differently impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. In these settings, critical measures for COVID-19 prevention and control that have been a feature of the response in higher resource settings may be more difficult to implement and some of them potentially harmful to the survival of many community members. In addition, capacities for testing, isolating and treating those who develop the disease, tracing and quarantining contacts may be severely lacking locally owing to weaker health systems. Public health and social measures in these settings need to be balanced against other risks affecting their communities, such as lack of income, access to basic services and social nets, and food insecurity. They also need to be pragmatic and leverage the strengths of the local structures and systems, notably through social mobilization and strong community engagement. This Interim Guidance outlines how key public health and social measures needed to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread and the impact of the disease can be adapted for use in low capacity and humanitarian settings. The Guidance is intended for humanitarian and development actors of all operational levels working with communities, as well as local authorities involved in COVID-19 preparedness and response operations in these settings, in support of national and local governments and plans.