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Dr Mike Ryan was presented with the award in a virtual ceremony

Vaccines will not mean zero Covid-19, says WHO's Ryan

World Health Organization Executive Director Dr Mike Ryan has said the arrival of vaccines will not mean zero Covid-19.

95% mask use would reduce the need for lockdowns, according to Dr Hans Kluge

Lockdowns in Europe 'avoidable' - WHO

Fresh lockdowns in Europe are avoidable, including through near-universal mask-wearing, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) Europe office has said.

Coronavirus • 19 Nov 20

Moderna's vaccine does not need ultra-cold storage like Pfizer's

Warning over 'vaccine hesitancy' amid Moderna results

The Deputy Chief Medical Officer has said news about Covid-19 vaccines is promising, but cautioned that "we will have to overcome vaccine hesitancy".

Coronavirus • 16 Nov 20

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has been at the forefront of the United Nations health agency's efforts to battle the pandemic

WHO chief in quarantine after contact tests positive

The World Health Organization chief has said he is self-quarantining after someone he had been in contact with tested positive for Covid-19, but stressed he has no symptoms.

Coronavirus • 02 Nov 20

Dr Michael Ryan said that much more comprehensive measures will be needed if Europe is to get on top of the virus

Europe 'well behind' in fight against Covid-19 - WHO

European governments are "well behind" in the fight against coronavirus and the continent is becoming an epicentre for the disease, a senior medic at the World Health Organization has warned.

Coronavirus • 26 Oct 20

Two medics embrace at Cremona hospital, southeast of Milan, during the worst of the outbreak in Italy in early March

Covid-19: 10 key developments in a world crisis

From the first cry of alarm out of central China to worldwide lockdowns and masks here are ten key developments in the spread of Covid-19.

Coronavirus • 10 Sep 20

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it was important to 'listen to what people are asking, what people are saying'

WHO urges 'dialogue' with virus protesters

The World Health Organization has urged governments to engage with people demonstrating against Covid-19 restrictions and listen to their concerns, but stressed protesters need to understand the virus is dangerous.

Coronavirus • 31 Aug 20

A child reacts as he receives an injection during a nationwide vaccination campaign in Uganda

'Historic day' as Africa is declared free of polio

The World Health Organization has declared that Africa is free of the virus that causes polio, a landmark in a decades-long campaign to eradicate the notorious disease around the world.

World • 25 Aug 20

Dara Calleary said 'the overall advice' is against all non-essential travel

Travel green list will not be published today

The green list for travel will not be published today, as the Cabinet meeting to sign off on the measure has been postponed.

Coronavirus • 20 Jul 20

Covid-19 has killed more than half a million people in seven months

Australia extends state border closures over Covid-19

Australia's second most populous city began a six-week lockdown today following a spike in new coronavirus cases, as states around the country tightened internal borders to prevent a second wave sweeping the country.

Coronavirus • 09 Jul 20

Maintaining good cough and sneeze etiquette is important

WHO urged to update guidance over virus transmission

A scientist, who was one of 239 signatories to a letter to the World Health Organization over concerns Covid-19 could be an airborne virus, has called on the UN health body to update its guidance.

Coronavirus • 08 Jul 20

The WHO said it will put out a new scientific brief within days

WHO studying evidence on airborne Covid transmission

The World Health Organization has said it will study fresh evidence on airborne transmission of the coronavirus, after an international group of scientists concluded it could spread far beyond two metres.

Coronavirus • 08 Jul 20

The WHO said that 60% of all Covid-19 cases were reported in June

WHO: Over 160,000 cases reported every day in past week

The global scale of the coronavirus pandemic is accelerating, the World Health Organization has said, pointing out that June saw more than half of all cases reported since the start of the pandemic.

Coronavirus • 01 Jul 20

Steroid reduced death rates by about a third (stock image)

Steroid reduced deaths among Covid-19 patients - study

Giving low doses of the generic steroid drug dexamethasone to patients admitted to hospital with Covid-19 reduced death rates by around a third among those with the most severe cases of infection, trial data showed.

Coronavirus • 16 Jun 20

When lockdown ended earlier this month Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern warned that new cases may come up in the future

New Zealand confirms two new cases of coronavirus

New Zealand reported its first new cases of coronavirus in almost a month when two recent arrivals from Britain tested positive after being released early from quarantine to visit a dying relative.

Coronavirus • 16 Jun 20

The WHO said that outbreaks were accelerating in countries such as Brazil

Americas new epicentre of coronavirus pandemic - WHO

The World Health Organization considers the Americas the new epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic, and now is not the time for countries to ease restrictions, officials have said.

Coronavirus • 26 May 20

The open letter urges the G20 to prioritise a healthy and green recovery to boost resilience against future health crises

G20 leaders told world needs 'green pandemic recovery'

Over 350 organisations have written to G20 leaders urging them to ensure that trillions of dollars, euro and yuan pouring into post-pandemic economies are used to build a "healthy and green recovery".

World • 26 May 20

A pharmacy tech holds pills of hydroxychloroquine

WHO temporarily suspends hydroxychloriquine trials

The World Health Organization has temporarily suspended clinical trials of hydroxychloroquine as a potential treatment for Covid-19 being carried out across a range of countries as a precautionary measure.

Coronavirus • 26 May 20

Two metre distancing sign at Phoenix Park, Dublin (pic: Rollingnews.ie)

2m space 'keeps you safe 99% of the time' - WHO expert

The World Health Organization's Special Envoy on Covid-19, Dr David Nabarro, has said two-metre distance guidance "keeps you safe 99% of the time", but you can "greatly reduce your risk by maintaining a one-metre distance".

Coronavirus • 25 May 20

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the WHO will continue to provide 'strategic leadership to co-ordinate the global response' to the crisis

WHO member states agree to independent probe

World Health Organization member states have agreed to an independent probe into the UN agency's coronavirus response as US criticism mounted over its handling of the pandemic.

Coronavirus • 19 May 20

WHO's decision-making body is holding its annual gathering virtually

Timeline of WHO's role in the coronavirus pandemic

The World Health Organization has been at the heart of the battle against the coronavirus since the first reported outbreak in China.

Coronavirus • 18 May 20

The World Health Assembly is expected to focus almost solely on Covid-19

US says WHO 'failure' on Covid-19 'cost many lives'

The United States has criticised the World Health Organization's "failure" to obtain and provide vital information on Covid-19 that could have reined in the pandemic and saved many lives.

Coronavirus • 18 May 20

Taiwan is currently excluded from the WHO

WHO committee to discuss Taiwan exclusion

The World Health Organization is to raise the question of Taiwan's participation as an observer at the World Health Assembly, which opens virtually tomorrow, before one of its committees.

World • 17 May 20

Several countries have reported cases of children affected by the condition

WHO studies possible Covid-19 link to rare disease

The World Health Organization has said it is studying a possible link between Covid-19 and a rare inflammatory illness that has sickened children in Europe and the United States, some of whom later died.

Coronavirus • 15 May 20

Dr Fauci said the virus epidemic is not yet under control in areas of the US

'Real risk' of new outbreak if US reopens too soon

Leading US infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci has warned Congress that a premature lifting of lockdowns could lead to additional outbreaks of the deadly coronavirus.

Coronavirus • 12 May 20