The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched CoViNet-a global network of laboratories to identify and monitor potentially novel coronaviruses that could emerge shortly.
- Besides SARS-CoV-2, the new WHO Coronavirus Network will assess other coronaviruses, including MERS-CoV, with enhanced laboratory capacity.
- The international agency widened its focus by building on its earlier collaboration with the WHO COVID-19 reference laboratory network, which was set up in January 2020 during the pandemic to confirm the disease.
- The network will now have animal health and environmental surveillance and timely risk assessment to feed WHO policies and protective measures.
- In low- and middle-income countries, the new network will support the building of more laboratories to monitor MERS-CoV and novel coronaviruses of public health importance.
