COVID-19 response strategies: considering inequalities between and within countries

Int J Equity Health. 2020 Aug 12;19(1):137. doi: 10.1186/s12939-020-01254-9.

Abstract

Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has been uncharted territory, and countries and governments have faced the challenge of implementing response strategies to manage local transmission. High-income settings have the resources to devote significant resources to testing, isolation, and contact tracing. Lower-income settings are pressured to emulate such initiatives, but often lack the resources and infrastructure to do so. We highlight the impact of these between-country inequalities, the within-country inequalities, and the potential magnification of unintended consequences due to COVID-19 control measures.

Keywords: COVID-19; Inequalities; LMICs; Pandemic response.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19
  • COVID-19 Testing
  • Clinical Laboratory Techniques
  • Contact Tracing
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Coronavirus Infections / prevention & control*
  • Developed Countries*
  • Developing Countries*
  • Health Resources / supply & distribution*
  • Humans
  • Pandemics / prevention & control*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / prevention & control*
  • Quarantine
  • Socioeconomic Factors