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Updated March 19, 2020
COVID-19: Global Implications and Responses
Overview
2020, WHO reported over 190,000 confirmed COVID-19
As of March 18, 2020, the novel coronavirus that began
cases globally, including nearly 8,000 deaths (Figure 1).
sickening patients in Wuhan, China, in early December
Many health experts suspect the true case count is
2019 had spread across the globe. According to the World
significantly higher. Transmission is slowing in mainland
Health Organization (WHO), 15 countries, including the
China, which hit a milestone on March 19 when its daily
United States, have reported more than 1,000 infections.
report for the first time included no new locally transmitted
Europe is the current epicenter for cases and deaths related
cases. New cases are also generally declining in South
to the virus. WHO has named the new virus “severe acute
Korea, another hotspot. Europe, including hard-hit Italy,
respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2” (SARS-CoV-2) and
Spain, France, and Germany, now accounts for nearly 40%
the disease that it causes “coronavirus disease 2019”
of reported cases and 43% of reported deaths. Iran accounts
(COVID-19). WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health
for 9% of reported cases and 13% of reported deaths.
Emergency of International Concern on January 30, raised
According to WHO, current data suggest the elderly and
its global risk assessment to “Very High” on February 28,
those with preexisting medical conditions (such as high
and labeled the outbreak a “pandemic” on March 11. In
blood pressure, heart and lung disease, cancer, and
using the term pandemic, WHO Director-General Tedros
diabetes) are more likely to develop severe illness from
Adhanom Ghebreyesus cited COVID-19’s “alarming levels
COVID-19. As of February 20, about 80% of surveyed
of spread and severity” and governments’ “alarming levels
COVID-19 patients in China experienced mild to moderate
of inaction.” President Donald J. Trump declared a national
illness, 14% had severe illness, and 6% became critically
emergency in the United States on March 13.
ill. In Italy, as of March 16, 59% of confirmed cases
The Virus
surveyed had mild symptoms.
Coronaviruses are a large family of zoonotic viruses—
Current diagnostic supplies are insufficient to meet global
viruses transmissible between animals and humans—that
demand, and scientists are trying to create tests that are
can cause illness ranging from the common cold to more
cheaper and more easily administered and that provide
severe diseases such as Middle-East Respiratory Syndrome
faster diagnosis. No specific treatments or vaccines for
(MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
COVID-19 exist. On March 16, the U.S. National Institutes
The most common symptoms among confirmed COVID-19
of Health (NIH) announced the start of a Phase 1 clinical
patients include fever and dry cough. As of March 18,
trial of a candidate vaccine for COVID-19.
Figure 1. Locations with Confirmed COVID-19 Cases Globally, as of March 18, 2020
Source: World Health Organization.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
COVID-19: Global Implications and Responses
China’s Experience
Council. On February 27, the President appointed Vice
President Mike Pence as the Administration’s COVID-19
China’s government first reported cases of pneumonia of an
task force leader. The Vice President subsequently
unknown cause to WHO on December 31, 2019, but did not
appointed President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
raise the alarm to China’s people until January 20. By
(PEPFAR) Ambassador Deborah Birx as the “White House
withholding information, the government may have
Coronavirus Response Coordinator.”
squandered an early window of opportunity to stem the
virus’s spread. After January 20, Chinese authorities began
Funds for Global COVID-19 Control. The Department of
taking aggressive actions to prevent the virus from
State and the U.S. Agency for International Development
spreading further, including painstaking efforts to find
(USAID) have made available $100 million of existing
cases, isolate them, and trace their close contacts, plus
funds to assist China and other affected countries “to
controversial restrictions on movement. Reported infections
contain and combat” COVID
“peaked and plateaued” in China between January 23 and
-19. HHS made available up to
$105 million from the Infectious Disease Rapid Response
January 27, and declined afterwards, except for a spike on
Reserve Fund (IDRRRF) for domestic and international
February 1, according to the report of a WHO-China Joint
COVID-19 responses; the $105 million from the IDRRRF
Mission that investigated the outbreak in China. A major
was exhausted by the end of February, according to
focus for China now is preventing importation of new cases
Administration officials. On February 24, the
from outside its borders.
Administration submitted an emergency supplemental
WHO Response
appropriation request of $2.5 billion for COVID-19
PHEIC. On January 30, 2020, WHO Director-General
response efforts, including $1.25 billion of repurposed
Tedros declared a Public Health Emergency of International
funds from across the government. Coronavirus
Concern (PHEIC), prompting countries to take specific
Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations
actions, including heightening surveillance and reporting of
Act, 2020 (P.L. 116-123), enacted March 6, provides $8.3
the disease. In the United States, Department of Health and
billion for domestic and international COVID-19 response.
Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar declared on
It includes $300 million to continue the Centers for Disease
January 31 “a public health emergency for the entire United
Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) global health security
States.” A PHEIC declaration can prompt countries to
programs, and $1.25 billion for USAID pandemic
provide additional resources for global and domestic
preparedness activities and Department of State activities,
response and enable WHO to access certain emergency
including evacuations.
funding, such as from the WHO Contingency Fund for
Travel Issues and Evacuations. The President has issued a
Emergencies (CFE) and the World Bank Pandemic
series of proclamations suspending entry into the United
Emergency Financing Facility (PEF).
States of most foreign nationals who, within the 14 days
“Pandemic.” WHO defines a pandemic as “the worldwide
prior to arrival, have been in mainland China (effective
spread of a new disease,” a situation in which a new virus
February 2), Iran (effective March 2), the Schengen Area of
emerges and spreads around the world and most people do
Europe (26 countries; effective March 13), or the United
not have immunity. WHO initially resisted calling COVID-
Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland (effective March 16).
19 a pandemic, but on March 11, with the number of
Other countries have instituted similar travel restrictions.
affected countries having tripled in the previous fortnight, it
On March 18, President Trump and Canada’s Prime
did so. This is the first coronavirus outbreak that WHO has
Minister Justin Trudeau announced their intention to
labelled a pandemic.
suspend nonessential travel across the U.S.-Canada border,
while allowing goods trade across the border to continue.
WHO Funds. On February 5, WHO announced a $675
million COVID-19 preparedness plan for February through
The U.S. government arranged charter flights to repatriate
April. It aims to provide international coordination and
U.S. citizens and permanent residents from Wuhan and the
operational support, bolster country readiness and response
Diamond Princess cruise ship off Japan. CDC recommends
capacity—particularly in low-resource countries—and
travelers avoid nonessential travel to mainland China, Iran,
accelerate relevant research and innovation. As of March
29 countries in continental Europe, the United Kingdom
17, donors had contributed $103.4 million and pledged an
and Ireland, Malaysia, and South Korea. It also
additional $102.6 million for the plan. On March 13, WHO
recommends that travelers defer cruise travel worldwide.
and the United Nations Foundation announced a COVID-19
On March 15, the State Department issued a global Level 3
Response Solidarity Fund, to raise money for the plan.
health advisory, advising Americans “to reconsider travel
Appeal on Personal Protective Equipment. WHO has
abroad due to the global impact of COVID-19.” A day
highlighted a global shortage of personal protective
earlier, the Department authorized “the departure from any
equipment (PPE) for health care workers and expressed
diplomatic or consular post in the world of U.S. personnel
concern about PPE price increases. From the start of the
and family members who have been medically determined
COVID-19 outbreak through March 3, WHO estimates
to be at higher risk of a poor outcome if exposed to
average prices increased sixfold for surgical masks, tripled
COVID-19.”
for N95 respirators, and doubled for medical gowns.
Sara M. Tharakan, Analyst in Global Health and
U.S. Response
International Development
Leadership. On January 29, President Trump announced
Frank Gottron, Specialist in Science and Technology
the formation of the President’s Coronavirus Task Force,
Policy
led by HHS and coordinated by the National Security
Susan V. Lawrence, Specialist in Asian Affairs
https://crsreports.congress.gov
COVID-19: Global Implications and Responses
IF11421
Tiaji Salaam-Blyther, Specialist in Global Health
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11421 · VERSION 13 · UPDATED