National Societies' and volunteers' roles will change through the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic in their respective countries and communities, based on which activities to support public health, clinical and health systems activities are likely to be most impactful in their context and with their outbreak dynamics. National Societies must work with their public authorities so that both the government and National Societies understand their respective mandates and the roles the National Society is technically and organizationally able to take on. National Societies should be prepared to adapt their operations over time as the outbreak progresses and appropriate outbreak response measures change. Throughout, it is important that National Societies identify their high-risk activities and plan to adapt and scale them to ensure vulnerable communities maintain access to life-saving health and humanitarian services throughout the epidemic.

Services

• A comprehensive toolkit of guidance resources
• Self-support via FAQ
• Direct technical guidance provided remotely via health.helpdesk@ifrc.org
• Learning webinars for topics with broad need for guidance

Frequently Asked Questions

The following Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) offers guidance related to the public health and clinical health aspects of COVID-19 preparedness and response.

Frequently Asked Questions include:

• What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
• What is the role of National Societies in addressing the direct and indirect health impacts of COVID-19?
• How can I protect myself from COVID-19?
• What is community-based surveillance (CBS)?
• In this context, can National Society staff and volunteers continue to provide first aid to those in need?

And many more

Tools and Guidance

Overarching IFRC guidance on how to provide health support in each phase of pandemic response. Review the following resources' pages which include guidance materials, checklists, information assets, and more:

GENERAL INFORMATION AND RESPONSE OPTIONS

• Risk, evidence, and modeling
• Strategic guidance
• Health care in danger

PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES TO PREVENT AND SUPPRESS TRANSMISSION

• Epidemic control for volunteers
• Fragile, complex and humanitarian settings
• Home care
• Management of the dead
• Point of entry and screening
• Quarantine
• Risk communication, community engagement, and accountability
• Surveillance and contact tracing
• Detention centres
• Testing

HOME CARE AND OLDER PEOPLE

• Home care for coronavirus patients
• Advice on the use of masks
• Guidance for working with older people

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

• Cloth Masks
• Personal protective equipment guide

WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE (WASH)

• Recommended PPE for WASH activities
• Guide on how to encourage community-level handwashing
• Waste management

CLINICAL AND PREHOSPITAL CARE

• Infection prevention and control
• Clinical response
• Prehospital care

MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT (MHPSS)

• Psychological coping during disease outbreak - elderly and people with chronic conditions.
• Mental health and psychosocial support for staff, volunteers, and communities.

MAINTAINING ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY AND CLINICAL HEALTH SERVICES DURING THE PANDEMIC

• Operational guidance
• Education
• First Aid
• Harm reduction for people who use drugs
• Community-based health
• Community-based health and first aid
• Non-communicable diseases
• Sexual and reproductive health

NATIONAL SOCIETY HEALTH PREPAREDNESS 

• Guidance
• Preparedness for Effective Response
• RCRC Movement Civil-Military Relations
• RCRC Epidemics and Pandemics Resolution
• Key messages

VOLUNTEER AND STAFF HEALTH AND WELLBEING

• Mental Health and Psychosocial Support
• IFRC Staff Health Guidance
• Guide for spontaneous volunteers
• Checklist - mobilization

BLOOD SERVICES

• Blood safety
• Securing blood supply

PROTECTION, GENDER, AND INCLUSION

• Sexual and Gender-based violence

Related Links