Strategic plan for coronavirus disease threat management: at a glance

Overview

The WHO strategic plan for coronavirus disease threat management sets out the global framework for the sustained, integrated and evidence-based management of coronavirus disease threats including coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and potential novel coronavirus diseases of public health importance, covering the 2025-2030 period. It emphasizes the long-term, routine management of coronavirus diseases, embedded within national health care and health emergency systems and aligned with broader respiratory and other infectious disease management strategies.

The plan guides and supports Member States and partners in developing and implementing sustainable, comprehensive approaches to coronavirus disease threat management and in integrating these approaches within broader respiratory and other infectious disease prevention and control programmes. It consolidates existing WHO technical guidance to inform national policies, programme design and implementation, and systems strengthening across all levels of the health system.

The WHO strategic plan for coronavirus disease threat management builds on and supersedes previous WHO strategic preparedness and response plans for COVID-19 and MERS, consolidating lessons learned into a unified, forward-looking approach. It is intended for Member States, partners and other stakeholders involved in coronavirus and other respiratory disease threat management.

This ‘At a glance’ document provides a high-level overview of the plan’s aim, key priorities, and operationalization apprroach. It is designed to help users quickly understand the plan’s purpose, structure, and scope before engaging with the full document.

Update notice: This document was revised on 2 December 2025 following the finalization of the full strategic plan for coronavirus disease threat management. Updates were limited to minor wording refinements and a change to the title. The previous title was: Strategic and operational plan for coronavirus disease threat management: at a glance. No other substantive changes were made.