scholarly journals Lessons Learned from Battling COVID-19: The Korean Experience

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (20) ◽  
pp. 7548
Author(s):  
Sang M. Lee ◽  
DonHee Lee
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Operations Management ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Mobile Technologies ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Public Healthcare ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Shared Goal ◽  
Healthcare Administrators

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has swept the world like a gigantic tsunami, turning social and economic activities upside down. Methods: This paper presents some of the innovative response strategies implemented by the public health system, healthcare facilities, and government in South Korea, which has been hailed as the model country for its success in containing COVID-19. Korea reinvented its public health infrastructure with a sense of urgency. Results: Korea’s success rests on its readiness, with the capacity for massive testing and obtaining prompt test results, effective contact tracing based on its world-leading mobile technologies, timely provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) to first responders, effective treatment of infected patients, and invoking citizens’ community and civic conscience for the shared goal of defeating the pandemic. The lessons learned from Korea’s response in countering the onslaught of COVID-19 provide unique implications for public healthcare administrators and operations management practitioners. Conclusion: Since many epidemic experts warn of a second wave of COVID-19, the lessons learned from the first wave will be a valuable resource for responding to the resurgence of the virus.

scholarly journals Preparedness and response of a tertiary hospital to the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria: challenges, opportunities and lessons

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darlington E Obaseki ◽  
Iriagbonse I Osaigbovo ◽  
Esohe O Ogboghodo ◽  
Omokhoa Adeleye ◽  
Obehi A Akoria ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Tertiary Hospital ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Scientific Journals ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Public Health Agencies ◽  
Health Agencies ◽  
Individual Healthcare

Abstract Africa was the last continent to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Much of the discourse on Africa's response captured in scientific journals revolves around nations, public health agencies and organizations, but little is documented about how individual healthcare facilities have fared. This article reports the challenges faced in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria, including space constraints, diagnostic challenges, shortages in personal protective equipment and health worker infections. The opportunities and strengths that aided the response are also highlighted. The lessons learned will be useful to similar facilities. More information about health facility response at various levels is needed to comprehensively assess Africa's response to the pandemic.

scholarly journals Contact Tracing and the COVID-19 Response in Africa: Best Practices, Key Challenges, and Lessons Learned from Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean B. Nachega ◽  
Rhoda Atteh ◽  
Chikwe Ihekweazu ◽  
Nadia A. Sam-Agudu ◽  
Prisca Adejumo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Community Education ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Face Mask ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Political Commitment ◽  
African Countries

Most African countries have recorded relatively lower COVID-19 burdens than Western countries. This has been attributed to early and strong political commitment and robust implementation of public health measures, such as nationwide lockdowns, travel restrictions, face mask wearing, testing, contact tracing, and isolation, along with community education and engagement. Other factors include the younger population age strata and hypothesized but yet-to-be confirmed partially protective cross-immunity from parasitic diseases and/or other circulating coronaviruses. However, the true burden may also be underestimated due to operational and resource issues for COVID-19 case identification and reporting. In this perspective article, we discuss selected best practices and challenges with COVID-19 contact tracing in Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda. Best practices from these country case studies include sustained, multi-platform public communications; leveraging of technology innovations; applied public health expertise; deployment of community health workers; and robust community engagement. Challenges include an overwhelming workload of contact tracing and case detection for healthcare workers, misinformation and stigma, and poorly sustained adherence to isolation and quarantine. Important lessons learned include the need for decentralization of contact tracing to the lowest geographic levels of surveillance, rigorous use of data and technology to improve decision-making, and sustainment of both community sensitization and political commitment. Further research is needed to understand the role and importance of contact tracing in controlling community transmission dynamics in African countries, including among children. Also, implementation science will be critically needed to evaluate innovative, accessible, and cost-effective digital solutions to accommodate the contact tracing workload.

scholarly journals COVID-19: public health management of the first two confirmed cases identified in the UK

2020 ◽  
Vol 148 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Holden ◽  
A. Quinney ◽  
S. Padfield ◽  
W. Morton ◽  
S. Coles ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Fast Moving ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
The Public ◽  
First Case ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Public Health Management

Abstract We report key learning from the public health management of the first two confirmed cases of COVID-19 identified in the UK. The first case imported, and the second associated with probable person-to-person transmission within the UK. Contact tracing was complex and fast-moving. Potential exposures for both cases were reviewed, and 52 contacts were identified. No further confirmed COVID-19 cases have been linked epidemiologically to these two cases. As steps are made to enhance contact tracing across the UK, the lessons learned from earlier contact tracing during the country's containment phase are particularly important and timely.

Vietnam’s Containment of COVID-19: Why the Coronavirus Mortality has Been So Low

2021 ◽  
pp. 002073142199296
Author(s):  
Claudio Schuftan
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Late Stage ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Health Messaging

The successful experience of Vietnam, with a population of almost 100 million, in handling the COVID pandemic from March to November 2020 is presented as a case study. It is posited that lessons learned apply to every other country—even at this late stage of the epidemic. Detailed aspects of detection, containment, testing, contact tracing, quarantining, targeted lockdowns, public health messaging, and travel and mobility restriction policies are discussed.

scholarly journals Public Health Policy of India and COVID-19: Diagnosis and Prognosis of the Combating Response

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 3415
Author(s):  
Priya Gauttam ◽  
Nitesh Patel ◽  
Bawa Singh ◽  
Jaspal Kaur ◽  
Vijay Kumar Chattu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Public Health Policy ◽  
Public Healthcare ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Future Health ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Government

(1) Background: Society and public policy have been remained interwoven since the inception of the modern state. Public health policy has been one of the important elements of the public administration of the Government of India (GOI). In order to universalize healthcare facilities for all, the GOI has formulated and implemented the national health policy (NHP). The latest NHP (2017) has been focused on the “Health in All” approach. On the other hand, the ongoing pandemic COVID-19 had left critical impacts on India’s health, healthcare system, and human security. The paper’s main focus is to critically examine the existing healthcare facilities and the GOI’s response to combat the COVID-19 apropos the NHP 2017. The paper suggests policy options that can be adopted to prevent the further expansion of the pandemic and prepare the country for future health emergency-like situations. (2) Methods: Extensive literature search was done in various databases, such as Scopus, Web of Science, Medline/PubMed, and google scholar search engines to gather relevant information in the Indian context. (3) Results: Notwithstanding the several combatting steps on a war-footing level, COVID-19 has placed an extra burden over the already overstretched healthcare infrastructure. Consequently, infected cases and deaths have been growing exponentially, making India stand in second place among the top ten COVID-19-infected countries. (4) Conclusions: India needs to expand the public healthcare system and enhance the expenditure as per the set goals in NHP-17 and WHO standards. The private healthcare system has not been proved reliable during the emergency. Only the public health system is suitable for the country wherein the population’s substantial size is rural and poor.

scholarly journals Prevalence and determinants of violence against health care in the metropolitan city of Peshawar: a cross sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Naseem Khan ◽  
Zia Ul Haq ◽  
Mirwais Khan ◽  
Sadia Wali ◽  
Faryal Baddia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Healthcare Personnel ◽  
Public Healthcare ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Violent Events

Abstract Background Violence against healthcare personnel is a major public health problem. Healthcare personnel are at the frontline dealing with people in stressful and unpredictable situations. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the prevalence and associated factors of violence against health care personnel. Methods A cross sectional study was conducted in the district Peshawar. Healthcare personnel from public and private sectors working in both the primary and tertiary levels of healthcare were invited to participate. Violence was assessed through a structured questionnaire previously used in Pakistan and was defined as experiencing and/or witnessing any form of violence in the last 12 months. Mental health was assessed through the General Health Questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to estimate the association of violence against healthcare personnel with psychological distress and demographic characteristics. Data entry and analysis were conducted in STATA 14. Results A total of 842 healthcare personnel participated in the study. The prevalence of violence experienced and/or witnessed by healthcare personnel in Peshawar was 51%. Verbal violence remained the predominant form of violence and almost half of the healthcare personnel (45%) were exposed to it. A quarter of the respondents (24%) reported physical violence alone or in combination with other forms of violence. In almost two third of the incidents the perpetrators were either attendants, relatives or the patients. The emergency unit and wards within healthcare facilities were the most common places where violent events took place. The major factors responsible for the violent incidents were communication failure, unreasonable expectations and perceived substandard care. No uniform policy/procedure existed to manage the incidents and the healthcare personnel adopted different responses in the wake of violent events targeting health care. Working in public healthcare facilities and having a larger number of co-workers/colleagues significantly increased the risk of violence in the healthcare settings while being a paramedic significantly reduced the risk as compared to physicians. Conclusions Violence against healthcare personnel is a serious public health issue and the prevalence is quite high. A holistic effort is needed by all stakeholders including healthcare community, the administration, lawmakers, law enforcement, civil society, and international organizations.

scholarly journals The Institutionalisation of Digital Public Health: Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 App

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 228-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ciro CATTUTO ◽  
Alessandro SPINA
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
Population Movements ◽  
Computing Power ◽  
Mobile Phone Application ◽  
Regulatory Strategies ◽  
Performance Computing

Amid the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, there has been a call to use innovative digital tools for the purpose of protecting public health. There are a number of proposals to embed digital solutions into the regulatory strategies adopted by public authorities to control the spread of the coronavirus more effectively. They range from algorithms to detect population movements by using telecommunications data to the use of artificial intelligence and high-performance computing power to detect patterns in the spread of the virus. However, the use of a mobile phone application for contact tracing is certainly the most popular.

scholarly journals Foundations of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Preparedness and Response Plan for Healthcare Facilities

2004 ◽  
Vol 25 (12) ◽  
pp. 1020-1025 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arjun Srinivasan ◽  
Lawrence C. McDonald ◽  
Daniel Jernigan ◽  
Rita Helfand ◽  
Kathleen Ginsheimer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Healthcare Facility ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Airborne Infection ◽  
Healthcare Settings ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Response Plan ◽  
Healthcare Administrators ◽  
Staffing Needs

AbstractObjective:To help facilities prepare for potential future cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).Design and Participants:The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), assisted by members of professional societies representing public health, healthcare workers, and healthcare administrators, developed guidance to help facilities both prepare for and respond to cases of SARS.Interventions:The recommendations in the CDC document were based on some of the important lessons learned in healthcare settings around the world during the SARS outbreak of 2003, including that (1) a SARS outbreak requires a coordinated and dynamic response by multiple groups; (2) unrecognized cases of SARS-associated coronavirus are a significant source of transmission; (3) restricting access to the healthcare facility can minimize transmission; (4) airborne infection isolation is recommended, but facilities and equipment may not be available; and (5) staffing needs and support will pose a significant challenge.Conclusions:Healthcare facilities were at the center of the SARS outbreak of 2003 and played a key role in controlling the epidemic. Recommendations in the CDC's SARS preparedness and response guidance for healthcare facilities will help facilities prepare for possible future outbreaks of SARS.

scholarly journals Containing COVID-19 Through Contact Tracing

2020 ◽  
Vol 136 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-38
Author(s):  
Nilesh Kalyanaraman ◽  
Michael R. Fraser
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Agency ◽  
The United States ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Local State ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Public Health Agencies ◽  
Incident Command ◽  
Department Of Health

Containing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) through case investigation and contact tracing is a crucial strategy for governmental public health agencies to control the spread of COVID-19 infection in the United States. Because of the recency of the pandemic, few examples of COVID-19 contact-tracing models have been shared among local, state, and federal public health officials to date. This case study of the Anne Arundel County Department of Health (Maryland) illustrates one model of contact-tracing activity developed early in the outbreak. We describe the contact-tracing effort’s place within the broader county health agency Incident Command System, as well as the capabilities needed, team composition, special considerations, and major lessons learned by county health officials. Other local, state, tribal, territorial, and federal health officials and policy makers can use this case study to innovate, iterate, and further refine contact-tracing efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection and support community members in isolation or quarantine.

scholarly journals Tracking the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia using genomics

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Torsten Seemann ◽  
Courtney Lane ◽  
Norelle Sherry ◽  
Sebastian Duchene ◽  
Anders Goncalves da Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Genome Sequencing ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Genomic Diversity ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Internal Quality ◽  
Reproductive Number ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Travel Restrictions ◽  
Response Team

BACKGROUND: Whole-genome sequencing of pathogens can improve resolution of outbreak clusters and define possible transmission networks. We applied high-throughput genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 to 75% of cases in the State of Victoria (population 6.24 million) in Australia. METHODS: Cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection were detected through active case finding and contact tracing. A dedicated SARS-CoV-2 multidisciplinary genomic response team was formed to enable rapid integration of epidemiological and genomic data. Phylodynamic analysis was performed to assess the putative impact of social restrictions. RESULTS: Between 25 January and 14 April 2020, 1,333 COVID-19 cases were reported in Victoria, with a peak in late March. After applying internal quality control parameters, 903 samples were included in genomic analyses. Sequenced samples from Australia were representative of the global diversity of SARS-CoV-2, consistent with epidemiological findings of multiple importations and limited onward transmission. In total, 76 distinct genomic clusters were identified; these included large clusters associated with social venues, healthcare facilities and cruise ships. Sequencing of sequential samples from 98 patients revealed minimal intra-patient SARS-CoV-2 genomic diversity. Phylodynamic modelling indicated a significant reduction in the effective viral reproductive number (Re) from 1.63 to 0.48 after the implementation of travel restrictions and population-level physical distancing. CONCLUSIONS: Our data provide a comprehensive framework for the use of SARS-CoV-2 genomics in public health responses. The application of genomics to rapidly identify SARS-CoV-2 transmission chains will become critically important as social restrictions ease globally. Public health responses to emergent cases must be swift, highly focused and effective.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document