covid-19
                     NOVEL
CORONAVIRUS HEALTH
(COVID-19) EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS
SIMULATION EXERCISE
COUNTRY NAME
Date and location
Agenda
Part 1: Part 2: 
• 08:45 Registration 09:00   Re-cap 
• 09:00   Introduction 09:15   Gaps analysis & action planning (group work) 
• 09:10 Exercise Objectives and how to play 10:30   Coffee break (15 min)
• 09:15   Table-top Simulation 10:45   Action planning continued  (group work) 
• 10:45 Coffee break (15 min) 11:30 Consolidation in plenary session
• 11:00 Table-top Simulation 12:00   Wrap up and next steps
• 12:30 Hot-wash 12:30   Closing
• 13:00 Close part 1
• 13:00 Lunch
SIMULATION EXERCISE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Thursday, July 16, 2020 page 2
Latest WHO Situation Report
The situation is evolving rapidly.
Let’s have a look at
the latest WHO SitRep.
SIMULATION EXERCISE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Thursday, July 16, 2020 page 3
Statement from the IHR (2005) Emergency Committee
To all countries
It is expected that further international exportation of cases may appear in any 
country. Thus, all countries should be prepared for containment, including active 
surveillance, early detection, isolation and case management, contact tracing and 
prevention of onward spread of COVID-19 infection, and to share full data with WHO.
Statement on the second meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding 
the outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19).  Geneva, 30th January 2020
SIMULATION EXERCISE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Thursday, July 16, 2020 page 4
What is a Table-Top Exercise (TTX)?
A tabletop exercise (TTX) is an exercise that uses a progressive 
simulated scenario, together with series of scripted injects, to make 
participants consider the impact of a potential health emergency on 
existing plans, procedures and capacities. 
A TTX simulates an emergency situation in an informal, stress-free 
environment.” 
-WHO Exercise Manual, 2017
SIMULATION EXERCISE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Thursday, July 16, 2020 page 5
Design & Purpose
Exercise Design 
Based on the 
“COVID-19 Strategic Preparednes
s and Response Plan (SPRP)” 
and designed for national level 
operational stakeholders, involved 
in public health emergency 
preparedness or response.
Purpose
Through facilitated group discussion, the exercise aims to examine 
and strengthen your existing plans, procedures and capabilities to 
manage an imported case of COVID-19. 
SIMULATION EXERCISE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Thursday, July 16, 2020 page 6
General objectives of the TTX
General Objectives
1. Share information on the progress of your preparation, including  
response capabilities, plans and procedures to identify and respond 
to an imported case of COVID-19 in your country.
2. Identify areas of interdependence between health actors and other 
sectors 
3. Conduct gap analysis based on the  COVID-19 Strategic 
Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP)
4. Develop an action plan to enhance your level of readiness, based 
on the SPRP.
SIMULATION EXERCISE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Thursday, July 16, 2020 page 7
Specific objectives of the TTX
1. Review the operation management process for a suspected case of COVID-
19.
2. Confirm arrangements for notification, coordination and internal 
communications before and after the confirmation of a COVID-19 case. 
3. Confirm procedures related to the management of a suspected cases 
before and after laboratory confirmation. 
4. Review plans to clarify lines of accountability (roles & responsibilities) and 
communication to enable a timely, well-coordinated and effective response.
5. Review the requirements of public health laboratories and funding
6. Review risk and media communications plans. 
SIMULATION EXERCISE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Thursday, July 16, 2020 page 8
Exercise managent team
Roles
Facilitation: (insert name/s)
Rapporteurs: (insert name/s) 
Observers: (if applicable)
SIMULATION EXERCISE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Thursday, July 16, 2020 page 9
Rules of the TTX
• Not an individual test
• Respect the views of 
others
• Respond as you would in 
real life and allow others to 
do likewise
• Use your existing plans, guidelines and 
regulations to inform your responses
 
• Focus on solutions
SIMULATION EXERCISE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Thursday, July 16, 2020 page 10
Table-Top Exercise: How to Play
Questions Questions 
& Scenario & This is a closed exercise, Scenario Discussion update Discussion designed just for you.
(1) (2)
The facilitators will guide 
you through a series of 
Questions Questions Questions discussions focused on 
& & Scenario & 
Discussion Discussion update Discussion an imported case of
(4) (5) (3) COVID-19
Hot-Wash Facilitated Action 
We are all
Debriefing Planning here to learn
SIMULATION EXERCISE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Thursday, July 16, 2020 page 11
Questions
ANY
QUESTION
BEFORE
WE START
SIMULATION EXERCISE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Thursday, July 16, 2020 page 12
NOVEL
CORONAVIRUS HEALTH
(COVID-19) EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS
SIMULATION EXERCISE
COUNTRY NAME
Date and location
Scenario SIMULATION ONLY
• A man is brought into [sub-national primary 
health care facility], in [City name] by his family 
with a high fever, cough and difficulty breathing. 
• He lives in [city] and has just returned home from 
a business trip to China. Based on his symptoms 
and his recent travel history, the man (58 years 
old) is suspected of having COVID-19. 
SIMULATION EXERCISE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Thursday, July 16, 2020 page 14
Session 1
Questions for discussion
1. Who should be informed, when and how?
2. What plans, procedures and resources would you activate at 
this point?
3. Does the patient need to be transferred to another hospital.  If 
so, where to and how?
4. What Infection Prevention and Control measures would you 
put in place for this patient?
30 mins
SIMULATION EXERCISE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Thursday, July 16, 2020 page 15
Scenario update SIMULATION ONLY
• The man apparently only developed symptoms 2 
days after his return from meetings in China. He 
did not have any local travel companions on his 
business trip , which included time in Beijing and 
Shanghai. His return flight home was routed via 
[regional hub], where he spent 6 hours in the 
transit lounge and upon arrival at [PoE, with 
entry screening] he did not have a fever. 
• Total contacts identified since symptoms are 15, 
including the examining doctor and nurses, whom 
initially admitted to him at the hospital, his 
immediate family and some local office 
colleagues. 
SIMULATION EXERCISE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Thursday, July 16, 2020 page 16
Session 2
Questions for discussion
1. What are your immediate priority actions?
2. What additional information do you require?
3. Would you notify WHO about this suspected case?
4. Who manage and conduct the monitoring and testing of the 
contacts?
30 mins
SIMULATION EXERCISE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Thursday, July 16, 2020 page 17
Session 3
Questions for discussion
1. How will you confirm whether the patient has COVID-19 or 
influenza?
• Which laboratory will conduct the test? Does this lab have the 
appropriate equipment, including PPE? 
• How long will confirmation take?
• Will you send for international confirmation?
• Is COVID-19 a national notifiable disease?
2. Who needs to be informed of the results?
30 mins
SIMULATION EXERCISE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Thursday, July 16, 2020 page 18
Break
Coffee Break 
(15min)
SIMULATION EXERCISE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Thursday, July 16, 2020 page 19
Scenario update SIMULATION ONLY
• The lab report confirms a positive test for COVID-
19 for the man. The man’s condition worsens and 
is critical. Six of the contacts being monitored, 
including the man’s wife and three nurses and a 
doctor have also tested positive for COVID-19. 
• In addition, 3 separate clusters of a total of 63 lab 
confirmed cases have been admitted in health 
care facilities in [capital city], [another city] and 
[another city]. 
• Domestic transmission is evident. The public is 
nervous, and the media is looking for a statement 
and to comment on rumors of multiple confirmed 
cases within the country.
SIMULATION EXERCISE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Thursday, July 16, 2020 page 20
Session 4
Questions for discussion
1. What actions would be triggered by this new event 
information?
2. How would this event be coordinated and managed?
3. Where would the funding come from to implement the 
response?
4. What support would you request from WHO and other 
partners?
30 mins
SIMULATION EXERCISE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Thursday, July 16, 2020 page 21
Session 5
Questions for discussion 30 mins
1. Who is leading on risk communication for this event?
2. What communication needs to take place? To whom?
3. What is your strategy for media communication?
• What is the mechanism for rapid clearing of timely and transparent 
communication messaging and materials?
• How will information and communication be coordinated across 
Ministries and partners, and across different levels of the government?
SIMULATION EXERCISE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Thursday, July 16, 2020 page 22
Hot-Wash
Initial feedback from 
the participants on 
the TTx
SIMULATION EXERCISE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Thursday, July 16, 2020 page 23
Summary &
Next Steps
Part II:
• GAP analysis: Focus 
group discussion to 
review readiness 
benchmarks
• Action planning
• Participants evaluation 
form
SIMULATION EXERCISE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Thursday, July 16, 2020 page 24
Agenda part 2
Part 2: 
09:00 Re-cap 
09:15 Strengths & Gaps analysis (group work) 
10:30  Coffee break (15 min)
10:45  Action planning (group work) 
11:30 Consolidation in plenary session
12:00 Wrap up and next steps
12:30 Closing
SIMULATION EXERCISE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Thursday, July 16, 2020 page 25
COVID-19 SPRP
• The “
 COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP)” 
outlines the measures to be taken at country level to contain the 
virus and will be updated with further measures as and if the 
epidemiological situation changes. 
• It will enable the targeted improvement of specific capacities. 
• This information will help national authorities to
• identify main gaps 
• perform risk assessments and 
• plan for response and control actions.
SIMULATION EXERCISE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Thursday, July 16, 2020 page 26
Strengths and gaps analysis
75 mins
TASKS:
Review strengths & gaps
1. In groups, divide a piece of paper into three 
sections.
2. Review the Readiness Checklist, your plans and 
notes from your TTX
Check assumptions 3. Discuss and write your points in each of the 
sections to answer:
• What worked well? (Achievements)
Propose ideas to • What was challenging? (Challenges)
enhance your systems, • Recommendations? (and prioritize, to identify 
plans & Procedures your top 3)
ACTION PLAN Note: the action plan will be done in the next session
SIMULATION EXERCISE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Thursday, July 16, 2020 page 27
Break
Coffee Break 
(15min)
SIMULATION EXERCISE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Thursday, July 16, 2020 page 28
Action Plan
45 mins
SIMULATION EXERCISE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Thursday, July 16, 2020 page 29
Consolidation
SIMULATION EXERCISE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Thursday, July 16, 2020 page 30
Participants’ feedback form
Your feedback will assist us 
to maintain and improve the 
quality and relevance of 
future simulation exercises.
5 mins
SIMULATION EXERCISE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Thursday, July 16, 2020 page 31
Next steps and wrap up
NEXT STEPS
SIMULATION EXERCISE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Thursday, July 16, 2020 page 32
THANK YOU!
For SimEx technical support,
please contact your WHO country office or regional office focal point:
AFRO: [email protected] 
EMRO: [email protected] 
EURO: [email protected] ; [email protected] 
PAHO: [email protected] 
SAERO: [email protected] 
WPRO: [email protected] ; [email protected] 
WHO RESSOURCES
WHO More
COVID-19 information
Emergency on
webpage coronavirus
Scan or Click Scan or Click
SIMULATION EXERCISE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) page 33