Governments’ Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Professor Farazmand has provided the inspiration, guidance, and assistance without which this special issue would not have been published. He has provided leadership, support, encouragement, and constructive criticism that have caused us to insist that only articles of the highest substantive and editorial excellence are included.

Preventing Exposure to SARS Cov-2 in Operation Theater Technology and Intensive Care Units

“…If the patient's family wishes to see the body before it are released from the ICU, they can be given standard precautions. Before the patient is moved from the ICU, the dead corpse must be placed in a plastic container sealed (Edwards & Ott, 2021).…”

Governmental Inter-sectoral Strategies to Prevent and Control COVID-19 in a Megacity: A Policy Brief From Shanghai, China

“…Moreover, how governments deal with the COVID-19 crisis is becoming a major research stream worldwide ( 2 ). Different national and local governments have taken widely differing strategies ( 3 ) in pandemic response management owing to the differences in existing political structures and dynamics ( 4 ). Previous research has found that sub-national contributions to policy are more important than national-level policies ( 5 ), and it is crucial to study regional variations to unpack the different roles of and interactions between political culture, public policies, and citizens' level of compliance ( 6 ).…”

“…However, we know little about how governments take inter-sectoral strategies in responding to and handling COVID-19 appropriately, especially in megacities. Although some core strategic policy tools, such as testing, tracing, social distancing, and early preparation ( 3 , 8 ), have been recommended, we still lack knowledge of appropriate inter-sectoral collaboration to improve the coordination of cross-related institutions in the prevention and control of COVID-19.…”

Global Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…It remains too early in the disease’s progression to assess the outcomes of the different approaches taken in countries and states/provinces around the globe. “Unquestionably, this pandemic has become an enormous challenge to governments’ decision-making processes and has created deep community and political divisions and strife in some countries” (Edwards & Ott, 2021 , 880, citing Rothwell & Makridis, 2020 ). Governments everywhere have had to learn “on the fly” with limited data to support their decisions and frequently have had to learn "on the fly" with limited data to support their decisions and frequently when faced with overwhelming mis-information and conspiracy theories.…”

“…Governments everywhere have had to learn “on the fly” with limited data to support their decisions and frequently have had to learn "on the fly" with limited data to support their decisions and frequently when faced with overwhelming mis-information and conspiracy theories. Government officials world-wide have had to make decisions that require populations and business establishments to change their behaviors although faced with “considerable disagreement about which measures best represent ‘successful’ government interventions” (Edwards & Ott, 2021 , 880). And, few government institutions are designed, structured or inclined to make policy decisions in this type of environment where “surprise management” is required (Farazmand, 2010 ).…”