COVID-19: Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)

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The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is officially called SARS-CoV-2, which stands for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The name of the illness caused by the coronavirus is SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19 stands for "coronavirus disease 2019.”

In the Philippines, from 3 January 2020 to 4:53 pm CET, 12 December 2022, there have been 4,049,042 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 64,880 deaths, reported to WHO. As of 30 November 2022, a total of 169,088,496 vaccine doses have been administered.

In order to protect public health during the outbreaks of infectious diseases including the pandemic COVID-19, provision of water, sanitation, and hygiene services is important. Frequent and proper handwashing is the most basic frontline defense against the spread of COVID-19. Yet a quarter of the world’s population lacks access to a reliable water supply.

Bill and Melinda Gates' Foundation's goal is to enable widespread use of safely managed, sustainable sanitation services that contribute to positive health, economic, and gender equality outcomes for the world’s poorest people.