Introduction

Risk communication is key to improving familiarity with and adherence to preventive measures, in normal times but also particularly during health emergencies. Failure to communicate the right message effectively can result in loss of trust, damage to the economy and loss of lives. For risk communication to be effective, risk messages have to be shared with the public in an openly and timely manner, so as to reduce the knowledge gap and to convince the public to adjust their behavior during a crisis. In addition to disseminating recommendations that are easy for the public to understand and comply with, trust in the source of the message is important for an effective risk communication

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been in the frontline in its operations to contain and mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The WHO is a key player in disseminating up to date information and recommendations on COVID-19 preventive behaviors to the public. With a physical presence in 149 countries, these recommendations are also adapted to national and local considerations, thereby setting the WHO protocol as a foundation for further containment strategies at various levels of government