ABSTRACT
Introduction The global spread of COVID-19 has led to a wide range of pandemic response measures, with great heterogeneity between countries, varying mostly in time and duration of implementation. The stringency level of measures was based on different epidemiological and health services indicators. In this work, we aimed to assess the association between these indicators and the stringency level imposed by countries. Methods We performed a retrospective observational and methodological study, using daily data on 22 EU countries between April and December 2020. The main outcome used was a composite indicator on the level of stringency of government response measures from the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker which comprises information on containment and health measures, economic response measures, health systems measures and vaccine policies measures. Lagged independent variables used were death rate, hospital bed occupancy rate, ICU occupancy rate and 14-day cumulative COVID-19 incidence. A panel data random-effects regression analysis was performed. Results COVID-19 death rate showed the largest effect on the level of stringency of these EU countries, followed by ICU occupancy rate, hospitalization rate and COVID-19 incidence. Discussion We show that epidemiological and health services indicators impacted the adoption of response measures to the COVID-19 pandemic differently. This highlights the different relative importance of incidence, death and pressure on health services when choosing between health and economic growth.
ABSTRACT
In order to ease lockdown restrictions and prevent a second wave of infections, countries must be able to find, test, trace, isolate and support new COVID-19 cases. The simplicity of the 'test, trace, isolate' mantra dramatically understates the multitude of time-dependent processes that must occur seamlessly for the strategy to work effectively. We reconceptualise the way out of lockdown as a Snakes and Ladders boardgame. To succeed, countries must ensure that people with COVID-19 progress through the board as quickly as possible by putting in place measures that enhance their public health capacity (i.e. landing on ladders) and prevent setbacks caused by having insufficient capacity (i.e. avoiding snakes).
ABSTRACT
COVID-19 has posed huge challenges for Europe's health systems but also for European solidarity. The WHO Regional Office for Europe and the European Commission have worked to maintain an international perspective and, as part of their efforts, called on the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. Its response was the HSRM platform. HSRM helps countries systematically capture how they are tackling COVID. It allows policy makers to see immediately how others are 'governing' transmission, resources and service delivery. They can identify common issues and share practice. HSRM has also provided the raw material for cross-cutting analysis of key policy questions. This combination of information and analysis has generated learning. What's more, it has helped assert the importance of countries coming together in the face of an international health emergency.
ABSTRACT
While the initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic was focused on preventing and mitigating a public health crisis, it has rapidly spiraled in many countries into a full blown economic and public finance crisis. We describe this evolution and consider how health financing, as well as population health, are likely to be affected by the economic crisis. We find that countries have applied a variety of measures which include making extra financial allocations available to the health sector, supporting workers experiencing job loss, and compensating health professionals for lost income and extra expenses.