Mitigation strategies to fight the COVID-19 pandemic—present, future and beyond

Ahmed Zainul Abideen,Mohd Rohaizat Hassan,Fazeeda Binti Mohamad

doi:10.1108/jhr-04-2020-0109

Ahmed Zainul Abideen, Mohd Rohaizat Hassan + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1108/jhr-04-2020-0109

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Abstract

PurposeThe latest novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to have a significant social and financial impact globally. It is very essential to study, categorize and systematize published research on mitigation strategies adopted during previous pandemic scenario that could provide an insight into improving the current crisis. The goal of this paper is to systematize and identify gaps in previous research and suggest potential recommendations as a conceptual framework from a strategic point of view.Design/methodology/approachA systematic review of Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) core collection databases was performed based on strict keyword search selections followed by a bibliometric meta-analysis of the final dataset.FindingsThis study indicated that the traditional mitigation techniques adopted during past pandemics are in place but are not capable of managing the transmission capability and virulence of COVID-19. There is a greater need for rethinking and re-engineering short and long-term approaches to prevent, control and contain the current pandemic situation.Practical implicationsIntegrating various mitigation approaches shall assist in flattening the pandemic curve and help in the long run.Originality/valueArticles, conference proceedings, books, book chapters and other references from two extensive databases (Scopus and WoS) were purposively considered for this study. The search was confined to the selected keywords outlined in the methodology section of this paper.

Highlights

Global pandemics provoke and disperse potential risks of short-term and long-term fiscal harm prompting healthcare systems to find newer and stronger coping strategies and techniques
(1) Highly efficient communication (1) Prolonged monitoring techniques (2) Effective surveillance suppressing proliferation (1) Healthcare staff training (2) Replenishing medical equipment (1) Cancellation of ad hoc events, travel restrictions, home quarantine, purge fake news, strategize funeral services (1) 60% reduction in transmission if quarantined within 1 day from the onset of symptoms (2) Social distancing set based on the stringent degree of pragmatism (1) Dedicated walk-in-clinic, training for medical workers, specialized infrastructure, transport and test and retest, integrated surveillance and intensive testing, case isolation, strict visitor controls, exchange and disinfect PPE, social event cancellation and domestic and international travel restriction COVID-19
Ninety-five percent of the material was in the form of journal articles and around 880 sources are written in the English language

Summary

Introduction

Global pandemics provoke and disperse potential risks of short-term and long-term fiscal harm prompting healthcare systems to find newer and stronger coping strategies and techniques. The nature of the morbidity and mortality of a pandemic can lead to serious economic disruption and disaster if individual nations do not come up with a strong collective preparedness and a decisive response plan [1]. The full terms of this license may be seen at http:// creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode

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