Main content

Pandemic

Coronavirus is officially a pandemic. Nations step up their efforts to contain it.

The World Health Organization says every effort is now needed to contain the coronavirus disease, COVID-19. Some nations have well-developed plans for dealing with the outbreak of a new virus, others are just starting to catch up. Jane Halton, the former health secretary of Australia, and a past chair of WHO’s executive board says there’s a lot to be learned from models that simulate similar outbreaks.

Also: health officials have warned people not to touch their face, but that’s easier said than done; understanding personal versus collective responsibility around coronavirus; millions of kids are home from school and they have some thoughts to share; after being on lockdown, a California family stranded in China ventures outside; and three Mexican nurses have become heroes in the global fight against coronavirus, thanks to a video they made on the correct way to wash hands.

(From L) World Health Organization (WHO) Health Emergencies Programme Director Michael Ryan, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and WHO Technical Lead Maria Van Kerkhove attend a daily press briefing on COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, at the WHO headquarters in Geneva. Credit: Fabrice Coffrini/Getty Images)

Available now

27 minutes

Last on

Mon 16 Mar 2020 09:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Sat 14 Mar 2020 22:32GMT
  • Sun 15 Mar 2020 04:32GMT
  • Mon 16 Mar 2020 09:32GMT

Free Download

Subscribe to receive every episode automatically

Boston Calling Clips

Big stories, short listens - highlights from Boston Calling

Podcast