A framework for identifying and mitigating the equity harms of COVID-19 policy interventions.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic. Governments have implemented combinations of "lockdown" measures of various stringencies, including school and workplace closures, cancellations of public events, and restrictions on internal and external movements. These policy interventions are an attempt to shield high-risk individuals and to prevent overwhelming countries' healthcare systems, or, colloquially, "flatten the curve." However, these policy interventions may come with physical and psychological health harms, group and social harms, and opportunity costs. These policies may particularly affect vulnerable populations and not only exacerbate pre-existing inequities but also generate new ones.

Methods

We developed a conceptual framework to ident

SUBMITTER: Glover RE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7280094 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature