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.
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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.






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.
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.


