Responding to COVID-19 surges

If COVID-19 cases are surging, first check the “Preparing for a surge”  section to make sure you have the key elements in place.

During a surge, hospital capacity may be overloaded and patients may need to be cared for at home. At the same time, prevention measures need to be reinforced with the general public and vaccination put in place, if available, for longer-term measures.

Ways to communicate

Above all, coordinate with the key operational organizations in your area. It’s important to have consistent messaging and reduce confusion.

Identify the spokespeople who are preferred by the people you are trying to reach. In some areas, it may be a government official, in other areas it may be a community leader. Make sure you know what the people you are talking to want to know and who they want to hear it from.

• Remind the public where to get updated information.
• Promote home-based management of cases at home and when to go to treatment centres. 
• Continue with sensitization and community engagement.
• Identify hotspots and strengthen capacity for risk communication interventions. 
• Ensure enforcement of policies to curb the spread, such as reducing the number of mass gathering events.
• Intensify collaboration and coordination with stakeholders, including religious leaders, media and community volunteers. 
• Continue to track and mitigate infodemic in real time (response within 24 hours). 
• Support vaccination where available, providing convenient access and tailoring communications to specific populations.

What to communicate

• Evidence communication tick-list: what to consider before writing or designing any communication (PDF): University of Cambridge Winston Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication
• Establish holding statements and talking points on:

• Avoidance of mass gatherings and travel
• Policies on home care

During a surge, address the highest risk activities: infection in home settings, mass gatherings and travel

Precautions at small gatherings Q&A

Precautions at mass gatherings Q&A

Travel advice Q&As