It has been two years since the world was shut down due to COVID-19. Since the first SARS-CoV-2 cases were identified in December 2019, there have been over 400 million reported coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases and at least 5.8 million deaths. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in inadequate or delayed access to healthcare services and economic devastation for people everywhere- no one has escaped the impact of COVID-19. Despite the rapid development of effective vaccines, scientific advances, medical interventions, and public health measures have proven insufficient to end the pandemic. Coupled with the virus and variants remaining one step ahead of medical interventions, the world has seen an absence of strong and effective political commitment to comprehensively and systematically implement control measures.
ISGlobal have initiated a three-stage Delphi study to develop a novel, future-focused consensus statement and set of recommendations for ending COVID-19 as a public health threat, as evidenced by the resumption of social, cultural, religious, political, healthcare, economic and educational activities in different country contexts.
These statements and recommendations address six key issues: false information (misinformation, disinformation and malinformation); health systems; vaccines and vaccination; prevention; treatment and care; and pandemic inequities. The recommendations provide a strong foundation for an immediate enhanced global COVID-19 response that is effective, multidisciplinary, multipronged and evidence-based.
As part of the consensus process, Wilton Park and ISGlobal will hold a World Café event for members of the consensus statement expert group. The event will follow the second Delphi round and will provide an opportunity for the group to discuss remaining issues around the census points and recommendations ahead of the final Delphi round.
The event is held in partnership with the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal).
Wilton Park reference number: WP2038V