The Success of Public Health Measures in Europe during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2, a serious threat to sustainable development prospects, is spreading within countries at varying speeds, among other things depending on their population density, behavioural responses, cultural factors, personal hygiene practices and habits. This has led to significant variation in countries’ policy responses aimed at stemming the proliferation of the virus. Using crisp-set qualitative comparative analysis, we conducted a comparative study at the European level to study the performance of different combinations of COVID-19 containment measures along with the response speeds. A set of configurations for two different scenarios (above- and below-median death rates) helps to illustrate how specific containment measures in each examined European country are related to the number of deaths. The main observation arising from the analysis is that the speed of response along with the decision to suspend international flights might determine the epidemic outbreak’s impact on fatality. The results also imply that several different combinations of containment measures are associated with death rates across Europe. The outcome of this analysis can assist in identifying which set of containment measures in the event of an epidemic outbreak is beneficial/detrimental.

A Look Behind the Scenes at COVID-19: National Strategies of Infection Control and Their Impact on Mortality

“…Progression of CoV to severe pneumonia is directly related to advanced age, history of metabolic syndrome, smoking, and other chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease [19]. Countries with a high percentage of advanced age and high population density in urban areas need to impose swiftly efficient measurements to reduce fatalities [19]. Primc et al analyzed the public health measures of European countries during the pandemic [19].…”

“…Countries with a high percentage of advanced age and high population density in urban areas need to impose swiftly efficient measurements to reduce fatalities [19]. Primc et al analyzed the public health measures of European countries during the pandemic [19]. They concluded that qualitative development of the health care system and improving protective health conditions such as serum (25(OH)D) concentrations may be important for the control of COVID-19 [19].…”

“…Primc et al analyzed the public health measures of European countries during the pandemic [19]. They concluded that qualitative development of the health care system and improving protective health conditions such as serum (25(OH)D) concentrations may be important for the control of COVID-19 [19]. To investigate the importance of serum vitamin D levels, median age, temperature, and humidity we compare infection control measures and their impact on COVID-19-related fatalities in Portugal, Sweden, and Switzerland ( Figure 1).…”

“…Primc et al reported a possible relationship between low 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations and susceptibility to COVID-19 [19]. Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in the northern hemisphere due to reduced solar irradiation especially in the winter months [20][21][22][23].…”

“…Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in the northern hemisphere due to reduced solar irradiation especially in the winter months [20][21][22][23]. The infection rates of COVID-19, which started in the month of December 2019, are now showing exponential growth in Northern Hemisphere countries, [19,24,25]. According to a recent review by Grant et al, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations may play a relevant role in the progression of COVID-19 [20].…”