Recommended WHO Resources
WHO is gathering the latest international multilingual scientific findings and knowledge on COVID-19. The global literature cited in the WHO COVID-19 database is updated daily (Monday through Friday) from searches of bibliographic databases, hand searching, and the addition of other expert-referred scientific articles. This database represents a comprehensive multilingual source of current literature on the topic. While it may not be exhaustive, new research is added regularly.
Over the past two years, the Quality Assurance, Norms and Standards (QNS) department has established highly responsive expert groups to meet the challenges of the pandemic. In collaboration with the WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE), QNS established a COVID-19 Publications Review Committee (PRC) in March 2020 which accepted the daunting task of reviewing all WHO-generated COVID-relevant technical documents. At the close of the biennium, the PRC had reviewed over 1600 submissions, with an average turnaround time of three working days. Of the documents reviewed, 13 were shared with the Guidelines Review Committee (a committee with a broader review remit also housed within QNS) which in the past two years has approved 10 final guidelines, including two emergency interim guidelines and four planning proposals for guidelines.
In accordance with the WHO Emergency Response Framework, a multi-faceted Incident Management Support Team (IMST) was struck to support the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In February 2020, QNS launched the Rapid Review Group (RRG) to provide rapid evidence retrieval and analysis in support of key questions necessary for the creation of WHO guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past 22 months, the RRG has completed over 160 rapid reviews (primarily evidence inventories) related to a very broad range of COVID-relevant topics. These reviews have informed a number of underlying interim guidance documents, while also supporting the generation of rapid evidence briefs on key COVID-19 issues.
For the latest WHO SARS-CoV-2 Technical Guidance: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/technical-guidance
While emphasizing the need for speed, QNS is also committed to applying the precautionary principle which encourages policymakers and public health professionals to take account of the growing complexity and uncertainty of the issues with which they are confronted. The first consultation meetings on the systematic use of the precautionary principle took place in April and September 2021.
Recently Complete Review Topics on SARS-CoV-2:
(Updated May 5th, 2022)
What are the factors influencing SARS-CoV-2 transmission in mass gatherings?
Is the proportion of vaccinated attendees of mass gatherings an independent factor to predict SARS-CoV-2 transmission?
Is the testing for entering stadia with vaccination certificate is associated with lower risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2?
What is the incubation period in persons infected with SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern (VoC)?
What is the evidence on COVID-19 transmission in people infected with SARS-CoV-2 VoC?
What is the definition of a contact of a confirmed or probable case infected with SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern?
What is the evidence that setting-based exposures can be used to classify contacts of varying risks (higher vs lower risk)?
What is the secondary attack rate for SARS-COV-2 for symptomatic and asymptomatic cases?
What is the risk of reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 (or VOC) and the evidence of onward transmission by reinfected individuals?
What is the evidence of waning immunity from vaccination or previous infection?
What is the evidence of benefits for backward contact tracing?
What is the evidence of testing contacts in order to shorten the quarantine period?
What is the effectiveness, immunogenicity and safety of a single dose of COVID-19 vaccine in persons with confirmed past COVID-19 infection?
What is the effectiveness, immunogenicity and safety of two doses of COVID-19 vaccine in persons with confirmed past COVID-19 infection?
What is the effectiveness, immunogenicity and safety of a booster dose in individuals who have had natural infection (confirmed) and had a primary series (two doses) of COVID-19 vaccine?
Currently Ongoing Review Topics on SARS-CoV-2:
Acute Hepatitis of unknown aetiology (emergency response evidence inventory)
Infection Prevention Control for Health Care Workers, Systematic Review to inform Technical Guidance
Trust in Public Health Agencies, Trust in Science related to public health measures during pandemics
Treatment of Immunosuppressed Patients with COVID-19
Transmission through the Air (regularly updated review)
Variables for Transmission Modelling
Interventions to improve Adherence to Masking (regularly updated review)
If you would like to enquire about recent reviews conducted by the Rapid Review Group, please email: MST@who.int
