How Compassion Is Responding to the New Coronavirus Outbreak

To stem the spread of the coronavirus, the government extended a nationwide shutdown until April 11. All schools, colleges and educational institutions are closed. All Compassion group activities are on hold. Compassion Bangladesh staff and partner churches are maintaining phone contact as much as possible and were recently able to send hygiene supplies to some beneficiary families.

The country is on quarantine and schools are closed until April 15. Compassion Bolivia staff held a Fasting and Prayer Day to pray for those affected by the pandemic. All Compassion child development centers have put group activities on hold. The government decree includes some leeway for people working to mobilize resources for the most vulnerable populations, so a few partner churches are permitted to provide food and hygiene supplies to beneficiaries and their families. Partner church staff is checking in with families via phone and providing instructions on hygiene and disease prevention as well as spiritual and emotional support.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases throughout Brazil continues to rise. All schools are closed until April 30. All public events are banned and public gathering locations, such as shopping malls and restaurants, are closed. Compassion programs are therefore on hold; however, Compassion Brazil staff has plans to provide emergency food and health assistance to beneficiaries.

There are confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country. The government is instructing citizens to follow hygiene and sanitation measures to mitigate spread of the virus. Schools, professional training centers and universities are closed until April 14, and public gatherings of more than 50 people are restricted. A curfew is in place from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Churches and religious congregations have suspended services until April 16. All Compassion partner churches have put child development center group activities on hold, but they continue regular child protection oversight and health care support.

There are confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the country. The government declared a national state of emergency. Borders are closed to non-citizens until May 30, and all educational institutions are closed until April 20. All Compassion center activities are on hold. Partner churches have provided hygiene training and food kits to select high-risk families. Staff are also helping families apply for government grants.

There are active cases of COVID-19 in the Dominican Republic. The government proclaimed a national emergency and the country is under quarantine until April 13. Schools, parks and commercial businesses (except for pharmacies and supermarkets) are closed, public events are banned, and air travel is canceled. There is a curfew from 5 p.m. to 6 a.m. All Compassion child development centers are closed. Compassion health specialists have been providing partner churches with guidance and educational materials, and partner church staff is providing physical and emotional support to families while complying with guidelines.

COVID-19 cases have been reported throughout Ecuador. The government declared a national health emergency and put prevention measures in place limiting entry into the country, restricting residents’ movement, forbidding large group gatherings, closing schools and some businesses, and improving sanitation of public places. There is a nationwide curfew from 2 p.m. to 5 a.m. All frontline church partners, and therefore all Compassion center activities, are closed. The staff continues to provide emotional and spiritual support by making regular phone calls to families.

There are currently active cases of coronavirus in the country. El Salvador issued a mandatory nationwide quarantine in early March, as the president acknowledged that the health system is not equipped to handle an epidemic of COVID-19. All educational activities are suspended, and Compassion programming is on hold. Partner churches are supporting the most vulnerable families with food and available medicine. Partner churches are also developing tutoring materials online so children can continue learning from home.

There is an increasing number of cases of the coronavirus in the country. Schools in Ethiopia are closed, and all university students have been advised to return home to their families. Large gatherings are banned, religious gatherings are limited, and precautionary measures are in place for public transportation. All child development centers have stopped group activities, meetings and training. Partner churches are maintaining phone contact with families, communicating prevention measures and distributing sanitation items.

The country is under partial lockdown due to increasing numbers of coronavirus cases. The government issued a directive suspending all public gatherings of more than 25 people, closing all schools and encouraging social distancing. All borders are closed. All frontline church partners are closed, and therefore all Compassion center activities are on hold. The centers will handle emergency health care, child protection interventions and disaster response for beneficiaries, as needed.

The Guatemala government declared a state of calamity and a curfew is in affect from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. until April 12. Large public events and gatherings are prohibited. Closed are schools, churches, sports activities, shopping malls, restaurants, and public and private organizations, except for pharmacies and hospitals. As a result, all Compassion child development centers are closed. Frontline church partners are monitoring the health and welfare of beneficiaries through phone calls. Staff is working within curfew guidelines to deliver food where needed.

Cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Haiti. The extreme poverty in the country makes it difficult for Compassion-assisted families to respect confinement guidelines as they must go to crowded open-air markets for food and supplies. Schools, universities, places of worship and industrial areas are closed until further notice. The borders and airports are closed to passengers but open for transportation of goods. All Compassion child development centers have stopped group program activities until April 13. Partner church workers are attempting to keep in touch with beneficiaries through phone calls and texts and are bringing food supplies to the most vulnerable when possible.

There are confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Honduras. All borders are closed and a national quarantine is in place. Public gatherings (sports, cultural, social and religious events, etc.) and public transportation are suspended and most businesses are closed. Only supermarkets, banks and hospitals are open. Accordingly, all Compassion programs and activities are canceled. Program staff is delivering food and hygiene kits to the most vulnerable families and reinforcing hygiene and safety measures with caregivers.

The country has confirmed cases of COVID-19. Local governments have advised students to learn from home and not attend schools through the end of May, and all gatherings of more than 25 people have been banned. Nearly all Compassion child development centers are closed; a few continue limited activities. Compassion health specialists are providing videos and flyers on disease prevention and hygiene. Frontline church partners and Compassion staff continue to monitor the local situations. Beneficiaries are still able to access medical care, and staff is maintaining contact with families via phone.

There are confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country. Public gatherings are banned and all institutions of learning are closed indefinitely. A curfew is in effect from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. All Compassion group activities, including weekly child programs, caregiver meetings and group trainings, are on hold. Compassion Kenya is providing the centers with information about prevention of the coronavirus and how to respond if children are affected. Frontline church partners are continuing child protection measures and health care support as needed.

Mexico has reported active cases of COVID-19. The government declared a health emergency, and schools are closed until April 30. Public gatherings are banned. All Compassion child development centers have put group program activities on hold. Some centers are providing nutritional support to the most vulnerable children.

Nicaragua has reported active cases of the coronavirus. The country is under an epidemiological alert and has put preventive measures in place. Compassion Nicaragua staff participated in a World Health Organization orientation about prevention of virus spread. Child development centers are not holding group meetings or activities. Staff are delivering food packages to the most vulnerable children, overseeing ongoing medical care, and covering all children and families in prayer.

As the cases of coronavirus have increased, the government has announced that all schools will move to online learning until June 20 All Compassion frontline church partners have put children's and youths' activities on hold. The national staff and church partners are monitoring the children and families that are most vulnerable due to extreme poverty, possible abuse or health complications. Church workers are working closely with local governments to deliver food to families.

The Philippines has reported active coronavirus cases throughout the country, and the numbers are increasing. The government issued an Enhanced Community Quarantine restricting travel from one city to another. Communities are under quarantine and schools are closed until April 14. Partner churches and child development centers are closed for group activities. Workers from the centers are providing food, relief goods and hygiene packs with alcohol/sanitizer and soap to the most vulnerable families of registered children. Partner churches that are able are holding online worship services for families to attend.

Rwanda has registered cases of COVID-19 and has instituted a lockdown. Borders are closed and citizens are banned from leaving home except for essential services such as health care, food shopping and banking. Schools are closed and large gatherings, including sports, social and religious events, are prohibited through April 5. All Compassion child development centers have stopped group activities and meetings. Center workers are communicating with beneficiaries and caregivers by phone where possible. They have been able to provide care and support to the most vulnerable children, including those who are malnourished and have medical issues, and staff is working with local governments to provide food to families.

Sri Lanka has reported cases of COVID-19. A ban has been imposed on all public gatherings, and all schools are closed until April 20. A curfew is in place starting at 6 p.m. nightly. The government has banned all passenger flights and ships from entering the country until further notice, and all postal services in the country have been suspended. Compassion programming is also on hold during this time. Staff is working to distribute dry ration packs as they are able under the government guidelines. One partner church has been able to work with the local government to make face masks.

All schools, colleges and universities in Tanzania are closed and public gatherings are currently banned through April 15. Accordingly, group meetings and activities at all Compassion child development centers are canceled through April 15. Staff of Compassion Tanzania and frontline church partners have received instruction on virus prevention measures. Partner churches will continue to provide medical attention and child protection to beneficiaries and families as needed.

The country is under a state of emergency and has reported increasing numbers of cases of coronavirus. Schools, restaurants and stores (except pharmacies, supermarkets and banks) are closed through April 30. Transportation routes are closed at the discretion of the provincial governors. Compassion child development centers have put group activities on hold. Church partners have distributed soap, sanitizer gels and face masks in some areas. Where possible, workers are keeping in contact with beneficiaries by phone.

There are confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country. Under government orders, public meetings of more than 15 people are banned and schools are closed until April 19. All borders are closed until mid-April. Compassion child development centers are therefore closed. Partner church staff members are taking food packages to the most vulnerable children, monitoring the health of children and families, delivering medical funds in cases of illness, and praying continually.

Coronavirus cases continue to rise in Uganda, and the country is on lockdown until April 14. The government directed all mass gatherings to stop and all churches and schools to close. A curfew is in place from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. All public transportation has been suspended and nonessential businesses are closed. Compassion child development centers have discontinued group activities through April 30. The centers are open only for one-to-one interaction with children and caregivers on an emergency basis. Partner church staff are visiting homes of beneficiaries only when absolutely necessary, including assisting with medical needs and child protection. Emergency needs are addressed with the approval of local governments and in compliance with all national guidelines.