Countries with delayed COVID-19 introduction – characteristics, drivers, gaps, and opportunities
Abstract Background Three months after the first reported cases, COVID-19 had spread to nearly 90% of World Health Organization (WHO) member states and only 24 countries had not reported cases as of 30 March 2020. This analysis aimed to 1) assess characteristics, capability to detect and monitor COV...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Globalization and Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-021-00678-4 |
| _version_ | 1818576515351183360 |
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| author | Zheng Li Cynthia Jones Girum S. Ejigu Nisha George Amanda L. Geller Gregory C. Chang Alys Adamski Ledor S. Igboh Rebecca D. Merrill Philip Ricks Sara A. Mirza Michael Lynch |
| author_facet | Zheng Li Cynthia Jones Girum S. Ejigu Nisha George Amanda L. Geller Gregory C. Chang Alys Adamski Ledor S. Igboh Rebecca D. Merrill Philip Ricks Sara A. Mirza Michael Lynch |
| author_sort | Zheng Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Three months after the first reported cases, COVID-19 had spread to nearly 90% of World Health Organization (WHO) member states and only 24 countries had not reported cases as of 30 March 2020. This analysis aimed to 1) assess characteristics, capability to detect and monitor COVID-19, and disease control measures in these 24 countries, 2) understand potential factors for the reported delayed COVID-19 introduction, and 3) identify gaps and opportunities for outbreak preparedness, particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). We collected and analyzed publicly available information on country characteristics, COVID-19 testing, influenza surveillance, border measures, and preparedness activities in these countries. We also assessed the association between the temporal spread of COVID-19 in all countries with reported cases with globalization indicator and geographic location. Results Temporal spreading of COVID-19 was strongly associated with countries’ globalization indicator and geographic location. Most of the 24 countries with delayed COVID-19 introduction were LMICs; 88% were small island or landlocked developing countries. As of 30 March 2020, only 38% of these countries reported in-country COVID-19 testing capability, and 71% reported conducting influenza surveillance during the past year. All had implemented two or more border measures, (e.g., travel restrictions and border closures) and multiple preparedness activities (e.g., national preparedness plans and school closing). Conclusions Limited testing capacity suggests that most of the 24 delayed countries may have lacked the capability to detect and identify cases early through sentinel and case-based surveillance. Low global connectedness, geographic isolation, and border measures were common among these countries and may have contributed to the delayed introduction of COVID-19 into these countries. This paper contributes to identifying opportunities for pandemic preparedness, such as increasing disease detection, surveillance, and international collaborations. As the global situation continues to evolve, it is essential for countries to improve and prioritize their capacities to rapidly prevent, detect, and respond, not only for COVID-19, but also for future outbreaks. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T06:15:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d06db64cd34b443ea6f17d18326791f7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1744-8603 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T06:15:15Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Globalization and Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-d06db64cd34b443ea6f17d18326791f72022-12-21T22:41:17ZengBMCGlobalization and Health1744-86032021-03-0117111310.1186/s12992-021-00678-4Countries with delayed COVID-19 introduction – characteristics, drivers, gaps, and opportunitiesZheng Li0Cynthia Jones1Girum S. Ejigu2Nisha George3Amanda L. Geller4Gregory C. Chang5Alys Adamski6Ledor S. Igboh7Rebecca D. Merrill8Philip Ricks9Sara A. Mirza10Michael Lynch11Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 ResponseCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 ResponseCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 ResponseCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 ResponseCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 ResponseCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 ResponseCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 ResponseCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 ResponseCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 ResponseCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 ResponseCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 ResponseCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 ResponseAbstract Background Three months after the first reported cases, COVID-19 had spread to nearly 90% of World Health Organization (WHO) member states and only 24 countries had not reported cases as of 30 March 2020. This analysis aimed to 1) assess characteristics, capability to detect and monitor COVID-19, and disease control measures in these 24 countries, 2) understand potential factors for the reported delayed COVID-19 introduction, and 3) identify gaps and opportunities for outbreak preparedness, particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). We collected and analyzed publicly available information on country characteristics, COVID-19 testing, influenza surveillance, border measures, and preparedness activities in these countries. We also assessed the association between the temporal spread of COVID-19 in all countries with reported cases with globalization indicator and geographic location. Results Temporal spreading of COVID-19 was strongly associated with countries’ globalization indicator and geographic location. Most of the 24 countries with delayed COVID-19 introduction were LMICs; 88% were small island or landlocked developing countries. As of 30 March 2020, only 38% of these countries reported in-country COVID-19 testing capability, and 71% reported conducting influenza surveillance during the past year. All had implemented two or more border measures, (e.g., travel restrictions and border closures) and multiple preparedness activities (e.g., national preparedness plans and school closing). Conclusions Limited testing capacity suggests that most of the 24 delayed countries may have lacked the capability to detect and identify cases early through sentinel and case-based surveillance. Low global connectedness, geographic isolation, and border measures were common among these countries and may have contributed to the delayed introduction of COVID-19 into these countries. This paper contributes to identifying opportunities for pandemic preparedness, such as increasing disease detection, surveillance, and international collaborations. As the global situation continues to evolve, it is essential for countries to improve and prioritize their capacities to rapidly prevent, detect, and respond, not only for COVID-19, but also for future outbreaks.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-021-00678-4COVID-19PandemicPreparednessGlobal healthSurveillanceBorder control measures |
| spellingShingle | Zheng Li Cynthia Jones Girum S. Ejigu Nisha George Amanda L. Geller Gregory C. Chang Alys Adamski Ledor S. Igboh Rebecca D. Merrill Philip Ricks Sara A. Mirza Michael Lynch Countries with delayed COVID-19 introduction – characteristics, drivers, gaps, and opportunities Globalization and Health COVID-19 Pandemic Preparedness Global health Surveillance Border control measures |
| title | Countries with delayed COVID-19 introduction – characteristics, drivers, gaps, and opportunities |
| title_full | Countries with delayed COVID-19 introduction – characteristics, drivers, gaps, and opportunities |
| title_fullStr | Countries with delayed COVID-19 introduction – characteristics, drivers, gaps, and opportunities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Countries with delayed COVID-19 introduction – characteristics, drivers, gaps, and opportunities |
| title_short | Countries with delayed COVID-19 introduction – characteristics, drivers, gaps, and opportunities |
| title_sort | countries with delayed covid 19 introduction characteristics drivers gaps and opportunities |
| topic | COVID-19 Pandemic Preparedness Global health Surveillance Border control measures |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-021-00678-4 |
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