Existing interventions and programs for COVID-19

Several global and national mitigation initiatives were taken to break the chain of transmission of
COVID 19 and limit its spread. Classic public health interventions such as screening, contact tracing,
isolation, quarantine and social distancing were adapted worldwide to curb the spread of the virus.
Likewise, non-pharmaceutical interventions such as wearing masks and personal protective
equipment, improving hand hygiene and cough etiquettes, and environmental cleaning were
promoted largely to minimize the chance of infection. 1

Some specific public health measures that were taken for COVID-19 prevention included

1. Nationwide lockdowns to urge the people to stay at home and avoid direct interaction with
infected individuals.
2. Closing of educational and professional institutions and switching to online classes and
“work from home” strategy.
3. Closure of entertainment venues, cinemas, public parks, malls and restaurants were the
most effective component of social distancing adapted worldwide.
4. Large quarantine and isolation centers were established in every country to separate the sick
and at-risk individuals from the healthy members of the population.
5. Context specific appropriate and proportionate restrictions on non-essential domestic and
international travel were imposed.2

In addition to the above listed essential measures for COVID-19 prevention, vaccination of all
individuals against Corona Virus is now the topmost priority of governments worldwide. Several
safe and effective from China, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States have been
approved for administration by the World Health Organization (WHO). Several multilateral
initiatives such as COVAX and individual governments are investing billions of dollars to optimize
vaccination coverage globally.3 According to recent statistics, 32.2% of the world population has
received at least one dost of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 24.2% is fully vaccinated. 4

Recommendations

In order to halt the current spread of COVID 19 and to prevent a future outbreak from becoming
a pandemic, following measures should be taken

 Developed countries should provide financial assistance to low- and middle-income

countries through COVAX to increase the vaccination coverage.
 Independent vaccine manufacturers should agree to voluntary licensing and technology
transfer.
 All national governments should update their preparedness plan against targets to be
set by WHO.
 The independence, authority, and financing of WHO should be strengthened, including
increasing member state fees.
 Policy makers should urgently engage with communities to improve confidence in
vaccines and combat misinformation and rumors around COVID-19.

References

1. Girum, T., Lentiro, K., Geremew, M. et al. Global strategies and effectiveness for COVID-19
prevention through contact tracing, screening, quarantine, and isolation: a systematic
review. Trop Med Health 48, 91 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-020-00285-w
2. Nkengasong J, Iwasaki A, Victora C, Oh J, Gao GF, Agrawal A, Drosten C, Söderberg-Naucler
C, López-Collazo E, Pollock AM, Viola A, Baker M. The Global Response to the COVID-19
Pandemic. Med (N Y). 2020 Dec 18;1(1):3-8. doi: 10.1016/j.medj.2020.12.003. PMID:
33363282; PMCID: PMC7748395.
3. Wouters OJ, Shadlen KC, Salcher-Konrad M, Pollard AJ, Larson HJ, Teerawattananon Y, Jit M.
Challenges in ensuring global access to COVID-19 vaccines: production, affordability,
allocation, and deployment. Lancet. 2021 Mar 13;397(10278):1023-1034. doi:
10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00306-8. Epub 2021 Feb 12. PMID: 33587887; PMCID:
PMC7906643.
4. Hannah Ritchie, Edouard Mathieu, Lucas Rodés-Guirao, Cameron Appel, Charlie Giattino,
Esteban Ortiz-Ospina, Joe Hasell, Bobbie Macdonald, Diana Beltekian and Max Roser (2020) -
"Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19)". Published online at OurWorldInData.org. Retrieved
from: 'https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus' [Online Resource]