Background
This document summarizes current WHO guidance for public health surveillance of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) inhumans caused by infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (hereafter referred to as COVID19 surveillance). This guidance combines and supersedes two earlier documents: Global surveillance guidance for COVID-19 caused by human infection with COVID-19 virus: Interim guidance and Surveillance strategies for COVID-19 human infection:
Interim Guidance 10 May 2020.
This document should be read in conjunction with the WHO guidance on preparedness, readiness and response activities, and contact tracing for COVID-19.
Updated information and other guidance on COVID-19 can be found on the WHO COVID-19 website.
What is new in this version:
• Incorporation of antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDTs) into case definitions, in the context of guidance on Antigen detection in the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection using rapid immunoassays
• Update of transmission classifications with the latest subcategories from Considerations for adjusting public health and social measures in the context of COVID-19
• In several places in the document, terminology has been updated to better clarify the distinction between COVID-19, as the disease, and SARS-CoV-2, as the causative agent