Mary Wilson
Well-known member
Published: November 08, 2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01897-3
Sudhvir Singh, Christine McNab, Rose McKeon Olson, Nellie Bristol, Cody Nolan, Elin Bergstrøm, Michael Bartos, Shunsuke Mabuchi, Raj Panjabi, Abraar Karan, Salma M Abdalla, Mathias Bonk, Margaret Jamieson, George K Werner, Anders Nordström, Helena Legido-Quigley,
Alexandra Phelan
Summary
Understanding the spread of SARS-CoV-2, how and when evidence emerged, and the timing of local, national, regional, and global responses is essential to establish how an outbreak became a pandemic and to prepare for future health threats. With that aim, the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response has developed a chronology of events, actions, and recommendations, from December, 2019, when the rst cases of COVID-19 were identi ed in China, to the end of March, 2020, by which time the outbreak had spread extensively worldwide and had been characterised as a pandemic. Datapoints are based on two literature reviews, WHO documents and correspondence, submissions to the Panel, and an expert veri cation process. The retrospective analysis of the chronology shows a dedicated initial response by WHO and some national governments, but also aspects of the response that could have been quicker, including outbreak noti cations under the International Health Regulations (IHR), presumption and con rmation of human-to-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2, declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, and, most importantly, the public health response of many national governments. The chronology also shows that some countries, largely those with previous experience with similar outbreaks, reacted quickly, even ahead of WHO alerts, and were more successful in initially containing the virus. Mapping actions against IHR obligations, the chronology shows where e ciency and accountability could be improved at local, national, and international levels to more quickly alert and contain health threats in the future. In particular, these improvements include necessary reforms to international law and governance for pandemic preparedness and response, including the IHR and a potential framework convention on pandemic preparedness and response.
PDF Format:
https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0140-6736(21)01897-3
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01897-3
Sudhvir Singh, Christine McNab, Rose McKeon Olson, Nellie Bristol, Cody Nolan, Elin Bergstrøm, Michael Bartos, Shunsuke Mabuchi, Raj Panjabi, Abraar Karan, Salma M Abdalla, Mathias Bonk, Margaret Jamieson, George K Werner, Anders Nordström, Helena Legido-Quigley,
Alexandra Phelan
Summary
Understanding the spread of SARS-CoV-2, how and when evidence emerged, and the timing of local, national, regional, and global responses is essential to establish how an outbreak became a pandemic and to prepare for future health threats. With that aim, the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response has developed a chronology of events, actions, and recommendations, from December, 2019, when the rst cases of COVID-19 were identi ed in China, to the end of March, 2020, by which time the outbreak had spread extensively worldwide and had been characterised as a pandemic. Datapoints are based on two literature reviews, WHO documents and correspondence, submissions to the Panel, and an expert veri cation process. The retrospective analysis of the chronology shows a dedicated initial response by WHO and some national governments, but also aspects of the response that could have been quicker, including outbreak noti cations under the International Health Regulations (IHR), presumption and con rmation of human-to-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2, declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, and, most importantly, the public health response of many national governments. The chronology also shows that some countries, largely those with previous experience with similar outbreaks, reacted quickly, even ahead of WHO alerts, and were more successful in initially containing the virus. Mapping actions against IHR obligations, the chronology shows where e ciency and accountability could be improved at local, national, and international levels to more quickly alert and contain health threats in the future. In particular, these improvements include necessary reforms to international law and governance for pandemic preparedness and response, including the IHR and a potential framework convention on pandemic preparedness and response.
PDF Format:
https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0140-6736(21)01897-3
