Ensuring the preparedness and development of an emergency response plan in the fight against the covid-19 outbreak in libya

Abstract

The Corona Virus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has been declared a public health emergency with international concern and a pandemic. Libya is one of the countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region, which has reported 65 cases and 3 deaths to date. The situation in Libya is getting more complicated due to the ongoing conflict that started in February 2015 to take the administrative control in the country. Amid all these alarming developments regarding to the global COVID-19 outbreak and the ongoing skirmishes in Libya, the United Nations has requested a ceasefire from all parties involved in the conflict. The political leaders should aim for strengthening case detection, isolation, infection prevention, treatment, surveillance, risk communication and contact monitoring activities. As a result, the consequences of a COVID-19 outbreak in Libya could be catastrophic unless an urgent and accelerated response to the infection is given. All conflicting parties in the country must agree to ceasefire and focus their interests and resources on preparedness and emergency response plan activities at this time.