WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020 AS OF 05:40 PM EST
The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic, making it the first coronavirus to be classified as a pandemic. To-date, there are more than 125,000 confirmed cases globally, with 1,100 of those confirmed cases occurring in the United States (US). During a recent press conference, the WHO announced that 111 countries have no confirmed cases of the virus and an additional 57 countries have less than 10 confirmed cases.
Johns Hopkins 2019-nCoV Map of Global Cases: Source
The CDC provides Guidance on Travel Risk Assessment Level for COVID-19: Source
While the number of confirmed cases continues to rise, the WHO’s Director General Tedros Adhanom encourages countries to step up their actions on protection from and mitigation against this pandemic, offering a set of recommendations based on the level of confirmed cases. Director General, Adhanom also stated “We cannot say this loudly enough, or clearly enough, or often enough: All countries can still change the course of this pandemic.” 
The WHO Guidance on Fear During COVID-19 Outbreak: Source
To curb the transmission of COVID-19, Italy has put in place a nationwide ban on all non-essential travel and public gatherings until April 3, 2020. In the US, many companies, states, and local authorities have begun taking additional measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by rescheduling events, suspending in person classes at schools, and allowing employees work from home.
Hagerty’s Director of Preparedness, Kyle McPhee, was quoted in the BBC News, where he cautioned “…mass closures could have knock-on effects and it could be short-sighted to implement them in a hurry.” Hagerty’s Executive Chairman, Brock Long, recently wrote in The Hill, sharing lessons from his time as FEMA Administrator as it applies to COVID-19: “…emerging infectious diseases, like COVID-19, have the potential to fully overwhelm local, state, federal, and international capacities to respond. For this reason, governments at all levels must do a better job of engaging with the private sector.”
The WHO on Protecting Yourself from the Virus:
These are 7 simple steps to protect yourself and others from #COVID19.
? https://t.co/RU2gRs6jmc #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/TNAw5YrP0u
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020
Public Health agencies and organizations continue to update and provide new guidance for preventing community spread and protecting oneself against the virus. The WHO encourages individuals to cover their cough with an elbow, avoid crowded places, and frequently wash their hands.The Hagerty Team encourages our readers to heed advice of international health organizations, government agencies, and local officials when responding to and protecting against COVID-19. The Hagerty Team will continue to provide information and updates on current events and disasters impacting the nation.
Stay Updated And Learn More
- John Hopkins University’s Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases Map
- 2019 Novel Coronavirus Situation Updates by CDC
- World Health Organization Coronavirus Information
- Hagerty Consulting Quarantine and Isolation Workshops
Keep track of Hagerty’s Incident coverage here:
DISASTER DISCOURSE CORONAVIRUS UPDATES
