Local public health officials and COVID-19: Evidence from China

ABSTRACT

Local public health authorities are at the forefront of fighting COVID-19. They monitor its spread in the local population and advise the local government on whether to close schools and businesses. Examining their role in battling COVID-19 will inform the public how best to prepare for a public health emergency. This study examined whether more competent local public health officials in China are more effective in fighting COVID-19, where competence was measured by the public health officials professional background. Only 38% of the heads of the public health departments of Chinese cities have a medical background. Cities with medical professionals as the head of public health departments had lower infection rates and death rates from COVID-19. The results were significant only at the start of the outbreak. Our results suggest that we should staff local public health authorities with competent professionals to better combat a pandemic.