Since early January 2020, the World Health Organization in the Pacific has been working closely alongside Pacific Governments and Ministries of Health, in collaboration with partners, to ensure that countries are capable of detecting, mitigating and treating COVID-19.

Through a COVID-19 Pacific Joint Incident Management Team (JIMT), WHO is coordinating with partners to bring together resources and assist Pacific countries’ readiness to reduce transmission and minimize the negative health and socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19. This includes:

• Training and technical guidance on critical preparedness, readiness and response actions for COVID-19, including: incident management and Health Emergency Operations Centres (HEOC);  clinical and public health system strengthening; enhancing disease surveillance; laboratory and response systems; strengthening case and contact management and maintaining case isolation and quarantine facilities; and supporting infection prevention and control in health facilities and the community.
• Working with government and community sectors, to ensure that a whole-of-government, whole-of-society response is planned and implemented.
• Prepositioning critical laboratory and medical supplies needed to test and treat cases, and personal protective equipment needed to protect health workers.
• Communicating with the public and engaging with communities on how to protect themselves and others, especially the vulnerable and those at highest risk.