COVID-19 Community Stabilization and Sustainability Framework: An Integration of the Maslow Hierarchy of Needs and Social Determinants of Health.

All levels of government are authorized to apply coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) protection measures; however, they must consider how and when to ease lockdown restrictions to limit long-term societal harm and societal instability. Leaders that use a well-considered framework with an incremental approach will be able to gradually restart society while simultaneously maintaining the public health benefits achieved through lockdown measures. Economically vulnerable populations cannot endure long-term lockdown, and most countries lack the ability to maintain a full nationwide relief operation. Decision-makers need to understand this risk and how the Maslow hierarchy of needs and the social determinants of health can guide whole of society policies. Aligning decisions with societal needs will help ensure all segments of society are catered to and met while managing the crisis. This must inform the process of incremental easing of lockdowns to facilitate the resumption of community foundations, such as commerce, education, and employment in a manner that protects those most vulnerable to COVID-19. This study proposes a framework for identifying a path forward. It reflects on baseline requirements, regulations and recommendations, triggers, and implementation. Those desiring a successful recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic need to adopt an evidence-based framework now to ensure community stabilization and sustainability.

Chapter 2 - Historic overview of the terrorist threat

This chapter provides an overview of the terrorist threat to the United States and includes summaries of terrorist events aimed at the US interests outside its borders, including the Khobar Towers bombing and the attack of the USS Cole. Information is provided for the two terrorist incidents prior to 9/11, the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing of the Murrah Federal Office Building. There is an extensive section of the tragic events of 9/11, including updated statistics and timelines and information on the 9/11 Commission and the July 2011 Department of Homeland Security Report on Implementing the Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission and information from the 10th anniversary report of the 9/11 Commission. Included are brief profiles of the April 15, 2013, Boston Marathon bombings and subsequent capture of one of the bombers, and the response to the 2012 Hurricane Sandy and the 2017 Hurricane Harvey. Also included are a review of the new issues and threats, including domestic terrorism, mass shootings, protecting the southern border, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 Contact Tracing Solutions for Mass Gatherings.

Mass gatherings and high-density activities, such as sporting events, conventions, and theme parks, are consistently included among highest-risk activities given the increased potential for widespread coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission. A more balanced risk management approach is required because absolute suppression of risk is unrealistic in all facets of life. Contact tracing remains a limiting factor in achieving such a balance. The use of Bluetooth or pairing devices is proposed to address this challenge. This simple approach, when applied in a manner that satisfies privacy and trust concerns, would allow high-risk encounters to be quickly identified, namely those where participants have spent 15 minutes or more within 6 ft of each other per current guidelines. If an attendee later tests positive for COVID-19 and tracing is required, the event organizer can provide a limited list of potential close contacts rather than an exhaustive list of all attendees. Contact tracers can, therefore, limit efforts to this concise group rather than needing to contact thousands of people or conduct mass media communications. Such a system, if institutionalized, supports risk assurance and safety measures for businesses by demonstrating a commitment to staff, customer protection, and ensuring high-risk encounters are logged, reinforcing longer-term societal pandemic resilience.

Color-coding for COVID-19 Management: An Idea Whose Time has Come

COVID-19 has awakened the country to a heightened state of daily, ongoing readiness for pandemic risk. Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the U.S. Government released a color-coded alert system to inform the public and support appropriate response, but the system was of little utility to most people. In the context of pandemic, where significant modifications to daily life are required and which change with local and regional transmission risk, the time for a color-coded alert system may have finally come