In late 2019, an acute respiratory disease emerged, known as novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19). The pathogen responsible for COVID-19 is severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus(SARS Cov2, also referred to as the covid19 virus), a member of the coronavirus family.

COVID-19 is mostly spread by respiratory droplets released when people talk, cough, or sneeze. It is thought that the virus may spread to hands from a contaminated surface and then to the nose or mouth, causing infection. Therefore, personal prevention practices (such as hand washing, staying home when sick) and environmental prevention practices (such as cleaning and disinfection) are important principles.

Ethiopia, being one of the developing countries trying to address the diverse needs of its people, is slowly feeling the havoc caused by the epidemic (the pandemic has already spread in most parts of the country, so saying at the verge gives a wrong signal as if the pandemic has not spread.) The government is currently showing high commitment to contain the epidemic before it causes significant damage to the community.

Regular media briefing was happening twice-a-week; by the State Minister of Ministry of Health and the Director General of EPHI.  With WHO support, Sensitization sessions facilitated for media practitioners to let them deliver accurate information on COVID-19.

In response to the growing spread of COVID-19, WHO has published a number of technical guidance documents on specific topics, including infection prevention and control.Hence, this guidance is adopted from WHO and center for disease control and prevention document.