Coronaviruses have repeatedly evolved during the past 100 years [1]. The first recovery of coronaviruses involved the identification of illnesses in animals followed by the isolation of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) from chickens in 1937 [2].

The COVID-19 pandemic has been declared as modern history’s gravest health emergency by many countries. The way the world is responding to this unprecedented global crisis will be part of history books. Memory institutions, including national archives, libraries, museums, as well as educational and research bodies, are already recording the decisions and actions being made which will help future generations to understand the extent of the pandemic and its impact on societies.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had major impacts on all aspects of life worldwide. No country can be considered safe, whether rich or poor. COVID-19 is a global concern not only as a huge health problem, but also socially, economically, politically and even ethically [3]. On the other hand, [4] described Coronaviruses as an enveloped, single-strand RNA virus that can infect a wide range of hosts including avian, wild, domestic mammalian species, and humans. Coronaviruses are well known for their ability to mutate rapidly, alter tissue tropism, cross the species barrier, and adapt to different epidemiological situations. 

Due to the importation of COVID-19 from epidemic states and countries to different states and countries, the disease has spread throughout China and all over the world in a short time, though the outbreak was recognized in Wuhan [5].       

COVID-19 has also affected most of the African countries, with over 103,875 cases and 3,184 deaths. The largest number of cases has been recorded in South Africa, and 64,388 cases have been reported in the WHO African region [6]. 

Coronaviruses are genetically diverse and have a high tendency towards frequent genetic mutations    and   gene recombination, which increases the risk of interspecies transmission. Information about the incubation period can help in establishing an effective quarantine for asymptomatic carriers, thus preventing the virus spread [7].

Several control measures are being instituted by nations around the world to extinguish the COVID-19 pandemic, including the issuance of travel advisories or even flight bans to and from infected countries, strict quarantine measures and traveler screenings, implementation of mitigation measures by healthcare specialists, application of social distancing measures for schools and popular gatherings, strict personal hygiene such as frequent handwashing, and wearing face masks [8]. Currently, world public health authorities such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and other global partners are trying to control and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Additionally, WHO issued a guide to managing the recent pandemic including instructions for the rapid detection of the disease, emergency treatment, application of prevention and control strategies, supportive therapy, and prevention of disease complications [9].

Armed conflicts cause deaths, injuries, destruction of infrastructures, and physical damage or destruction of healthcare delivery facilities. This facilitates the spread of newly emerging diseases. Hence, conflict zones are more susceptible to the spread of infectious diseases, including COVID-19. Concerns about the impact of the pandemic in countries experiencing armed conflict have been expressed. Such countries include Syria, Libya and Yemen, where the impact may go even beyond the borders of these countries [10].

The protracted crisis in Libya is now entering its ninth year and has left over 400,000 people in displacement, including nearly 120,000 children. Since 15 March 2020, schools and non-formal learning centers in Libya have remained closed to limit the spread of COVID-19; this has left at least 1.3 million students out of school. The closure has also left conflict- affected children and adolescents unable to access various essential services including psychosocial support, as schools and non-formal earning centers serve as access points for these services. on the other hand, following years of neglect and under-investment in the health sector, Libya is ill-equipped to tackle COVID-19 [11]. 

A recent health sector assessment found that only just over half of communities had emergency health services or health care services for children, and just under half had any kind of general clinical services. The situation is even worse when it comes to reproductive health care. Mental health services are basically non-existent. The severity of the impact of COVID-19 on Libya will be heavily influenced by progress (or lack of progress) dealing with the political crisis. The failure of political rivals to reach a sustained peace agreement has taken a heavy toll on the economy, which the pandemic is exacerbating. The rival governments in the east and west have introduced separate measures to combat COVID-19 [9].

From the currently available information about the virus and its epidemiology, the control of the COVID-19 requires an effective and global disease coordination effort including multidisciplinary research efforts (One-Health approach) through collaboration between governments, epidemiologists, virologists, health authorities, veterinarians, physicians, and the global organizations.

Data were collected from the published reports by the global organization who worked in Libya such as World Health Organization (WHO), The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), UN Women United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), The United Nations Development Program (UNDP), The World Food Program (WFP) The International Organization for Migrations (IOM), The United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), The WFP-led Emergency Telecommunications Sector Common Feedback Mechanism (CFM), Emergency Telecom Sector (ETS), Terre des hommes (TDH), International Medical Corps (IMC) Emergenza Sorrisi/Naduk , Humanity & Inclusion (HI), The International Rescue Committee (IRC) and, Project Implementation Unit (PUI).

The socio-economic impact of COVID-19 in Libya will be profound and long-lasting. Several major external and internal factors will affect its course: Externally, COVID’s effect on the global economy has drastically reduced demand for oil and gas –which constitute Libya’s main source of revenues. 

(COVID-19 aside, in the first half of this year, Libya had already lost around 6 billion dollars because of an oil blockade. The continued disruption of oil and gas production and exports is likely to have disastrous economic and social consequences for Libya. The former conditions will have a greet effects on the Libyan health system(Table 1-3).

Table 1: 2020 PMR (Periodic Monitoring Report) Related Indicators (May)

Health sector Libya (2020)

Table 2: COVID-19 Testing Centers in Libya

Health sector Libya (2020)

Table 3: NCDC Managing Disease Surveillance System to Receive the Required Technical Support

Health sector Libya (2020)

The worldwide production of goods and services has been drastically reduced because of COVID-19. This has left Libya’s health system extremely vulnerable, since it is heavily dependent on both imported medicines, supplies and equipment, and imported services provided by international medical experts). Internally, the country is facing a perfect storm of vanishing revenues, divided governance, widespread corruption, the near collapse of the health system and other basic services, and the escalating fighting. The lack of foreign exchange will have a huge impact on all sectors in Libya and on the lives of ordinary people.

It is very clear that the health system in Libya suffering from a critical problem such as, the shortage of medical staff members and difficulty to introduce a foreign medical staff during this global pandemic outbreak in addition to the military conflict in Libya. The former data also cleared that, a great shortage of medical equipment and materials is occurred. Moreover, not only the infected people by COVID-19 or those who may infect are in danger, also neonates, children and women who need a special medical care like vaccines and medical measurements are facing a dangerous situation. On the other hand, the university education in Libya facing a great financing and security challenges specially the medical colleges and institutes that suffering from a great shortage of specialist staff members, in addition to pandemic outbreak closing. So, the shortage of medical staff members will be continue (Table 4-5).

Table 4: The Situation with Vaccines’ Availability in the Country during the COVID-19 Pandemic out Break

Health sector Libya (2020)

Table 5: Availability of ICU Departments and ICU Beds in Hospitals (2017)

Health sector Libya (2020)

According to the WHO report 2020 on Libya, the following years of neglect and under-investment in the health sector, Libya is ill-equipped to tackle COVID-19. A recent health sector assessment found that only just over half of communities had emergency health services or health care services for children, and just under half had any kind of general clinical services. The situation is even worse when it comes to reproductive health care. Mental health services are basically non-existent (Figure 1). Moreover, Attacks on health care are continuing. Thus far this year, there have been more confirmed attacks on health care in Libya than in any other country worldwide. The resulting closure of health facilities has an obvious immediate impact on people who need health care, including some who may be infected by COVID-19.

Figure 1: Number of Beds and Number of Hospitals All Over the Libyan Country

1. Forni, D. et al. “Molecular evolution of human coronavirus genomes.” Trends in Microbiology, vol. 25, no. 1, 2017, pp. 35–48.

2. Beaudette, F.R. and C.B. Hudson. “Cultivation of the virus of infectious bronchitis.” Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, vol. 90, 1937, pp. 51–56.

3. Hartley, D.M. and E.N. Perencevich. “Public health interventions for COVID-19: Emerging evidence and implications for an evolving public health crisis.” JAMA, vol. 323, no. 19, 2020, pp. 1908–1909.

4. Decaro, N. et al. “Recombinant canine coronaviruses in dogs, Europe.” Emerging Infectious Diseases, vol. 16, no. 1, 2010, pp. 41–47.

5. Gorbalenya, A.E., S.C. Baker, and R.S. Baric. “The species severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus: Classifying 2019-nCoV and naming it SARS-CoV-2.” Nature Microbiology, vol. 5, 2020, pp. 536–544.

6. Tadesse, D.B. et al. “The burden, admission, and outcome of COVID-19 in Africa: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.” Emerging Microbes & Infections, vol. 9, no. 1, 2020, pp. 1372–1378.

7. Chan, J.F.W. et al. “A familial cluster of pneumonia associated with the 2019 novel coronavirus indicating person-to-person transmission: A study of a family cluster.” The Lancet, vol. 395, no. 10223, 2020, pp. 514–523.

8. Cowling, B.J. and G.M. Leung. “Epidemiological research priorities for public health control of the ongoing global novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak.” Euro Surveillance, vol. 25, 2020, article 2000110.

9. World Health Organization. Clinical Management of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection When Novel Coronavirus (nCoV) Infection Is Suspected. WHO, March 2020.

10. Daw, M.A. “Corona virus infection in Syria, Libya and Yemen: An alarming devastating threat.” Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, Apr. 2020, article 101652.

11. World Health Organization. WHO Director-General’s Opening Remarks at the Media Briefing on COVID-19. WHO, March 2020.