International Policy Responses and Early Management of Threats Posed by the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic to Social Care

Abstract

Context: People with prior health conditions are susceptible to severe and sometimes fatal outcomes of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, that causes the disease COVID-19. The protection of the capacity of systems for social care was thus an important consideration for governments in the early stages of the global pandemic. Objectives: This paper reports and discusses the results of a rapid review of international early policy responses for the protection of social care systems after the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that SARS-CoV-2 had evolved into a pandemic. Literature was collected in March 2020. Method: Rapid online review of government responses to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic using official government statements and press reports from 13 countries. Findings: The analysis of early responses in and about social care to the pandemic suggested an initial focus on avoiding the outbreak of the virus in care homes, with first steps being to limit visitors in these contexts and considering ways to isolate residents with symptoms or a confirmed infection. Responses to protect people receiving social care in their homes and schemes to support informal or family carers were less prominent. Limitations: Only publications in the public domain and in local languages of the 13 countries were considered for this analysis. It is possible that further strategies and responses were not made available to the public and are therefore not included, which limits this article's scope for analysis. Implications: The findings of this article can support reflection on the trajectory of policy responses to the threats that SARS-CoV-2 poses to social care. They can thereby potentially inform planning and policy responses for enhanced pandemic preparedness and stronger social care systems in the future.

COVID-19 Preparedness and Perceived Safety in Nursing Homes in Southern Portugal: A Cross-Sectional Survey-Based Study in the Initial Phases of the Pandemic

“…Currently, as the pandemic unfolds and national vaccination campaigns intensify, countries are still struggling to contain the spread of different virus strains and their effects on the population's health. Each country has been facing its specific challenges, depicted by the large variability in countries' set of responses to this global health crisis [1][2][3]. A common denominator across countries is how older people are vulnerable to this pandemic.…”

“…Thus, nursing homes are particularly prone to becoming an epicenter for an outbreak of coronavirus [3,6].…”

COVID-19 Preparedness and Perceived Safety in 138 Nursing Homes in Southern Portugal: A Cross-sectional Survey-based Study in the Initial Phases of the Pandemic

“…Currently, as the pandemic unfolds, countries are still struggling to contain the spread of different virus strains and their effects on the population's health. Each country has been facing its specific challenges, depicted by the large variability in countries' set of responses to this global health crisis [1][2][3]. A common denominator across countries is how older people are vulnerable to this pandemic.…”

“…In many countries, nursing homes are of special concern given their residential setting and the characteristics of its users [4,5]. Thus, nursing homes are particularly prone to becoming an epicenter for an outbreak of coronavirus [3,6].…”