Committee : World Health Organization (WHO)

Topic : Infection Prevention and Control of Future

Pandemics

Delegation : Greece

At the end of 2019, a series of pneumonia cases of unknown cause emerged in Wuhan,
China. A few weeks later, in January 2020, deep sequencing analysis from lower respiratory tract
samples identified a novel virus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
as causative agent for that observed pneumonia cluster. On February 11 th, 2020, the World
Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, named the
disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 as “COVID-19”, and by March 11 th, 2020 when the number
of countries involved was 114, with more than 118,000 cases and over 4000 deaths, the WHO
declared the pandemic status.1

COVID-19 has made a huge impact on various aspects of human life around the world
and different hypotheses have been put forward for future life. COVID-19 is an epidemic that
has not only affected human health and social relations but has also changed other important
areas of life.

During health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic, one of World Health
Organization (WHO)’s most vital roles is to gather data and research from around the world,
evaluate it, and then advise countries on how to respond.

For many years, World Health Organization (WHO) has been working with countries to
prepare for a global pandemic, and has published guidance to help all countries prepare and
brace for future outbreaks. For countries where resources are scarce or where there is risk is
overwhelming a fragile health system, World Health Organization (WHO) has published
guidance on COVID-19 preparedness and response in low capacity and humanitarian settings.

Greece enters lockdown with calls on public to observe rules. As Greece enters a
universal lockdown on Saturday, November 14th, 2020 it will be strictly enforced, with tough
penalties for violations. Deputy Minister of Civil Protection, Nikos Hardalias warned that the

1 World Health Organization. [2020]. A Guide to WHO’s Guidance On COVID-19. https://ww.who.int./news-

room/features-stories/detail/a-guide-to-who-s-guidance
checks for the correct implementation of the measures will be sweeping and called for rational
use of movement using the SMS system. Under the SMS system, cellphone users must send a
massage to the toll-free 13033 hot line featuring the number corresponding to one of six
approved reasons to leave home, followed by their name and address.2

Currently, no cure is available for COVID-19. The fight against COVID-19 will not be
won until every country in the world can control the disease. But not every country has the same
ability to protect people. There are low-income countries that struggle with weak health system,
large populations of impoverished people and crowded megacities.

The strategy of COVID-19 is by separating the sick and those at high risk, moving them
from the homes where they might live alone or with an extended family into vacant homes or
taking over facilities previously used for other purposes, such as learning centers. The people
being targeted include the elderly and those with preexisting health conditions that make them
susceptible to COVID-19, as well as the homeless.

Country’s policy also important in this case. The governments around the world must
turn to the police to ensure that people stay home and handout punishment to those who aren’t
following the rules. In Greece for example, employers who provide false movement permits for
employees will be fined €500. For companies that operate in violation of the new measures and
the lockdown face fines of between €3,000 and €5000.

As we all know, the fight against COVID-19 will not be won until every country in the
world can control the disease. We have to gather and find the best solution in infection
prevention and control of future pandemics.

2 Ekathimerini.com. [2020]. Greece Enters Lockdown with Calls On Public To Observe Rules.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/258907/article/ekathimerini/news/greece-enters-lockdown-with-calls-on-public-
to-observe-rules