CDC COVID-19 Global Response

Response Goals and Objectives

The goals of CDC’s global response to COVID-19 are to limit human-to- human transmission, minimize the impact of COVID-19 in vulnerable countries with limited preparedness capacity, and reduce specific threats that pose current and future risk to the United States.

CDC’s global COVID-19 response works toward these goals by meeting the following objectives:

• Strengthen capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to local COVID-19 cases
• Mitigate COVID-19 transmission in the community, across borders, and in healthcare facilities
• Support governments, nongovernmental organizations, and healthcare facilities to rapidly identify, triage, and diagnose potential cases to improve patient care and minimize disruptions to essential health services
• Address crucial unknowns regarding clinical severity, extent of transmission, and infection with support for special investigations and other forms of cooperation between CDC and country partners
• Ensure readiness to implement vaccines and therapeutics when available.

CDC’s technical support is delivered in coordination with the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development, other U.S. government agencies, and other stakeholders including multilateral organizations.

Response Program Overview

Global health security investments and decades of global cooperation and support to control HIV, TB, and malaria, eradicate polio, prepare for influenza and other pandemic diseases have built strong foundations upon which to attack the coronavirus pandemic. CDC is supporting prevention, preparedness, and response efforts globally, in partnership with public health agencies, health ministry counterparts, and multilateral and non-governmental organizations worldwide.

CDC’s activities are designed to enhance COVID-19 response capabilities and simultaneously continue to build longer-term, sustainable capacity for response to highly communicable diseases in the future.

CDC is leveraging existing preparedness and capacity investments and redirecting appropriate resources to ensure quick access to response funds at post. Examples of CDC COVID-19 response activities to date include:

• Training in infection prevention and control (IPC): In Vietnam, CDC is supporting training on IPC, including collection and testing for laboratory and hospital staff at national hospitals and provincial hospitals in more than 30 provinces.
• Support response coordination: In Sierra Leone, CDC has supported adaptation of a system for electronic data capture in the field (case investigation, contact monitoring, etc.) and created virtual meeting rooms.
• Support epidemiologic response: In Zambia, CDC supported investigation and contact tracing for cases.
• Support for laboratory testing: In Malawi, CDC provided technical support for setting up a COVID-19 testing lab, helped to identify CDC-supported HIV labs for additional COVID-19 testing, and developed a 3-day training course on biosafety standards.

CDC is constantly monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and directing response resources based on changing epidemiology, response requirements, and opportunities to learn more about the virus.  Additionally, global COVID-19 response funding may be allocated to address gaps and needs in field operations, as they continue to become apparent.

1. This plan is based on the currently available information and includes estimated working capital fund allocations. CDC will continue to monitor and adjust plans, as needed.
2. Technical areas are implemented through headquarters, regional and country offices, and multilateral and non-governmental partners.
3. This spend plan is based on resources provided in Public Law 116-123. A spend plan for funds provided in Public Law 116-136 is under development.