Governments’ Response to COVID-19 Pandemic: From Sociologist Lens

Abstract

COVID-19 became the subject of concern for all individual, institution and government across the globe by the start of 2020. No country and sector were left unimpacted by COVID-19 pandemic. However, the level of impact was at varying stage. Among all individuals and families, population dependent on informal income sources were the one severely affected by COVID-19. Individuals and families from same group became the prime concern for government across the globe. Three tier government intervened from policy level intervention to direct support. This explanatory research dissected the efforts of three tier government through review of articles related with impact of COVID-19 on daily lives of families relying on informal income sources and government’s approaches to reduce an impact. Federal government made the declaration of lockdown while provincial and local government coordinated with non-government and private agencies to identify and address an immediate need of poor and vulnerable families. Solidarity was seen among citizens and government as well as non-government institutions. However, with increased lockdown period, government could not capitalize the act of solidarity showed by citizens further increasing socio-economic issues instead of reducing or ending woes. With COVID-19 crisis, government had enormous opportunity to address an immediate need, make short term to long term strategies and make the three-tier system functional even during crisis scenario. However, besides fulfilling immediate needs in terms of food resources, government at all level could not strategize to meet the need of families relying on informal income sources.