"COVID 19 - CORONAVIRUS DISEASE"

Small businesses which make up more than half of the global workforce were 2.5 times more likely to go under than larger firms in the first months of COVID-19, the International Trade Centre (ITC) said on Wednesday, warning that the impact of climate change is likely to cause pandemic-scale disruption “every decade.” UNTV CH

In a boost to the African Union’s target to vaccinate 60 percent of the continent’s population by 2022, the World Bank and the AU announced a partnership to support the Africa Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT) initiative with resources to allow countries to purchase and deploy vaccines for up to 400 million people across Africa. WORLD BANK

Briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and its COVAX partners are working with a South African consortium comprising Biovac, Afrigen Biologics and Vaccines, a network of universities and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to establish its first COVID mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub. WHO

At the opening session of today’s UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet presented a report on the central role of the State in responding to pandemics. One of the report’s key message is that failure to meet human rights obligations undermined the resilience of health systems as well as health emergency preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. UNTV CH

A joint thematic event of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council on least developed countries, on the theme “Diversifying the financing toolbox to enhance investment in least developed countries”.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the “two-track pandemic” is now taking its toll on some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people and stressed that "vaccines donated next year will be far too late for those who are dying today, or being infected today, or at risk today.” WHO

Informal comments to the media by António Guterres, Secretary-General, following his appointment of the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Crucial elections needed by end of 2021 to break political impasse, tackle worsening conditions in Haiti, experts tell Security Council.

Briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.