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, including getting timelier and more accurate data to inform public health decision-making and strengthening the public health workforce globally
• Mitigate COVID-19 transmission in the community, across borders, and in healthcare facilities; prevent transmission of COVID-19 in healthcare facilities, among healthcare workers and public health personnel and minimize disruptions to essential health services
• Contribute to the scientific understanding of COVID-19 and address crucial unknowns regarding clinical severity, extent and pathways of transmission, and infection with support for special investigations
• Ensure readiness to implement and evaluate vaccination programs and use therapeutics when available

CDC’s technical support is delivered in coordination with 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 respond to outbreaks, control HIV, TB, and malaria, eradicate polio, and 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, response and capacity investments to ensure quick access to response funds at post, while also assessing the needs of countries, regions, and U.S.-based efforts to respond effectively as the pandemic evolves. Examples of CDC’s COVID-19 response activities to date include:

• 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.).
• 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.
• 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.

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.

For a detailed fact sheet including an overview of the goals, objectives, activities, and spend plan of CDC’s global response to COVID-19, please click here pdf icon[PDF 236 KB, 1 page].