Combating the Spread of COVID-19

The World Health Organization (WHO) classified the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic. The world is facing an unparalleled reality with extensive consequences for each of us and the societies we live in.

19 Mar 2020 | Rockland, Massachusetts, United States of America

March 19, 2020 – On Wednesday, March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic. The world is facing an unparalleled reality with extensive consequences for each of us and the societies we live in.

From a public health perspective, our collective goal in the US is to support efforts to slow the rate of transmission and thus reduce the risk of overwhelming our healthcare system. In recognition of the seriousness of the present situation, EMD Serono is taking preventative actions to support efforts to minimize the spread of the virus while working to ensure that our medicines, products and services continue to reach the patients who rely on them.

The majority of EMD Serono employees (whether field or office-based) are currently working from home and cancelling any in-person meetings, in the interest of the health and safety of our employees, healthcare professionals, patients and the broader community at large. There are a limited number of employees who must be on-site to perform their work (e.g., R&D workers in the lab, those in manufacturing sites, etc.) to preserve our science and technology for the benefit of patients and human progress. These workers have been instructed to adopt stringent measures to increase social distancing and maximize hygiene.

With that in mind, our manufacturing sites and partners are ensuring the supply of medicines and we do not foresee an interruption to the supply. We expect to continue to respond with the usual promptness to the needs of healthcare providers and patients in the United States.

This is uncharted territory for us all. We will continue to closely monitor COVID-19 activity in the US, with the health and safety of our employees and overall public health as a top priority, while ensuring business continuity. It is our goal to actively solicit input from key partners and providers to better understand the evolving reality and determine how we can best support the fight against COVID-19.