In pictures: Coronavirus around the world

In pictures: how the world is reacting to Coronavirus

Shanghai Ballet dancers wearing masks practice in a dance studio in Shanghai, China, as the country is hit by an outbreak of the novel coronavirus, February 20, 2020. Picture taken February 20, 2020. REUTERS/Aly Song - RC2U4F9LCIGO — Masks in motion: Shanghai Ballet dancers practice in a studio in China

Image: REUTERS/Aly Song

Coronavirus, or COVID-19, has affected more than 55 countries in six continents at the time of writing. From calmly continuing with life as normal to quarantine, face masks and a flurry of shopping to stock up on essentials, the response to this global outbreak has been mixed.

Advice from the World Health Organization is clear: wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, keep at least a metre away from anyone coughing, cough or sneeze into a tissue or the crook of your elbow, avoid touching your face, and call ahead for medical advice if you experience symptoms of a fever, cough and difficulty breathing. Face masks are not officially recommended for the public, but some people are opting to wear them.

Here's a look at some of the most striking images of a world dealing with the uncertain threat of a new virus.

Coronavirus: Masked carnival reveller wears protective face mask at Venice Carnival, which the last two days of, as well as Sunday night's festivities, have been cancelled because of an outbreak of coronavirus, in Venice, Italy February 23, 2020. REUTERS/Manuel Silvestri TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC2E6F95HAOG — A participant at the Venice Carnival opts for two masks. The event was shut down because of Italy's Coronavirus outbreak, which had infected more than 2,000 people and killed 52 at the time of writing.

Image: REUTERS/Manuel Silvestri

Corona virus: A couple celebrate Valentine's Day as they wear face masks in precaution of the coronavirus outbreak at Orchard Road in Singapore February 14, 2020. REUTERS/Edgar Su — Love in the time of Corona: A couple take a stroll on Valentine's Day in Singapore, which has won international praise for containing the virus. Over 100 people have been infected but there have been no deaths to date.

Image: REUTERS/Edgar Su

Coronavirus: A police officer wears a mask as he walks in front of the Oriental Pearl Tower, as the country is hit by an outbreak of a new coronavirus, in Lujiazui financial district in Pudong, Shanghai, China, February 5, 2020. REUTERS/Aly Song SEARCH — Quiet streets in the Lujiazui financial district in Pudong, Shanghai. The outbreak originated in China and has hit the country hardest, with over 75,000 cases reported.

Image: REUTERS/Aly Song

Tenerife hotel Coronavirus lockdown — A holiday in Tenerife took an unexpected turn for these guests as the H10 Costa Adeje Palace, which was on lockdown after cases of Coronavirus were detected there.

Image: REUTERS/Borja Suarez

Coronavirus: A resident pulls back a rope tying groceries delivered by community workers as the residential compound is under sealed management, following an outbreak of the novel coronavirus, in Yichang, Hubei province, China February 22, 2020. Picture taken February 22, 2020. China Daily via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. CHINA OUT. - RC2F7F972IUI — A woman in Yichang, Hubei province, pulls up groceries delivered by community workers. Wuhan, the largest city in the province, endured a lockdown of over a month to contain the spread of the virus.

Image: REUTERS

Sisters Yao Yicheng, 6, and Yao Yihang, 4, who have not been outside for three weeks play with skipping rope and hula hoops in the living room of their home in Shanghai, China, as the country is hit by an outbreak of a new coronavirus, February 25, 2020. Picture taken February 25, 2020. REUTERS/Aly Song - RC2HBF9EIRBQ — Confinement: Sisters Yao Yicheng, 6, and Yao Yihang, 4, had not been outside their Shanghai home for three weeks when this photo was taken.

Image: REUTERS/Aly Song

What is the World Economic Forum doing about the coronavirus outbreak?

Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic requires global cooperation among governments, international organizations and the business community, which is at the centre of the World Economic Forum’s mission as the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation.

How can we collaborate to stop the spread of COVID-19?

Since its launch on 11 March, the Forum’s COVID Action Platform has brought together 1,667 stakeholders from 1,106 businesses and organizations to mitigate the risk and impact of the unprecedented global health emergency that is COVID-19.

The platform is created with the support of the World Health Organization and is open to all businesses and industry groups, as well as other stakeholders, aiming to integrate and inform joint action.

As an organization, the Forum has a track record of supporting efforts to contain epidemics. In 2017, at our Annual Meeting, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) was launched – bringing together experts from government, business, health, academia and civil society to accelerate the development of vaccines. CEPI is currently supporting the race to develop a vaccine against this strand of the coronavirus.