The COVID-19 spread very quickly worldwide, which has resulted in a global pandemic. All countries in the world have taken measures for the purpose of preventing and controlling the epidemic. China for example, has control the spread effectively, while the Unite States, Brazil and India are still striving to cope with the increasing COVID-19 confirmed cases. The epidemic has impacted the whole world, also revealing quite a lot problems of urban health governance in different countries. This commentary reviews the pandemic response measures in selected countries such as China, Italy, America, Brail and India. On the basis of critical reflection on the problems incurred in each country's pandemic response, we further provide a theoretical framework to reconceptualise public health as multiple types of economic goods. We couple this reconceptualisation with the systems approach to urban health and wellbeing to offer new thinking on the governance of public health. Finally, we propose suggestions for better, preventative and comprehensive epidemic prevention and public health governance.