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COVID-19: An update from the Munich Security Conference
The outbreak of the novel coronavirus is one of the most acute challenges the world is facing at present, and indeed for the weeks and months ahead. Curbing the spread of COVID-19 is now a top priority for the international community. The Munich Security Conference is committed to supporting the fight against the pandemic.
"All countries must be prepared for the arrival of cases, to treat patients with dignity and compassion, to prevent onward transmission, and to protect health workers," said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, at this year's Munich Security Conference (MSC). As the world's leading platform for debate on international security, we see it as our duty to help contain the coronavirus pandemic. "Every day matters if we want to gain time and maintain healthcare capacities through effective containment measures," says MSC Chairman Wolfgang Ischinger.
As a consequence, the MSC decided to cancel its outreach activity at the annual Tana Forum in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, from April 24 to 26. At this stage, we intend to continue this year's MSC activities with the European Defence Roundtable on July 14 in Paris. We are monitoring the rapidly changing situation closely to adapt our plans if necessary. For all relevant updates, follow us on Twitter and subscribe to our newsletter.
The Munich Security Conference has acknowledged early on that local health issues have the potential to evolve into full-fledged international security crises. Aware of the need for international action, the MSC partnered with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Chatham House, and Merck, in order to promote the discussion and collaboration between health officials, NGO leaders, security strategists, the private sector, and decision-makers. Within its Human Security Series, the MSC has been organizing events and conferences on health-related challenges since 2016. Moreover, health security has become an integral part of the MSC's annual conference in Munich as well as at its Core Group Meetings. Additionally, a chapter in the annual Munich Security Report regularly focuses on health security issues. In light of the ongoing pandemic, the MSC will further advance its activities in the health security domain.
