Two Years of COVID-19: Analysis of Global and India's Pandemic Response

Abstract

Introduction: We are currently amid a COVID-19 pandemic which had its epicenter in Hubei Province of the People's Republic of China. The present study is conducted to understand the various factors influencing pandemic response, policies adopted by different countries, and lessons learned. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive study conducted across countries of different WHO regions covering period from January 2020 to December 2021. Data included parameters like case fatality rate, R0, human development index, vaccination coverage, medical manpower. Other key epidemiological parameters assessed and analyzed like sociodemographic and health related indicators. Results: A range of strategies has been adopted worldwide based on the population structure as well as the health-care infrastructure of each country. Rich countries such as the US and the UK were susceptible to COVID because of international air travel but also had more financial resources to fight the pandemic but have been repeatedly overwhelmed by infections and face a return to costly lockdowns. These countries had high prevalence of comorbidities such as diabetes and obesity with large elderly population. Case fatality and death per million had no relation with vaccination coverage. Countries with high population density like India and Israel shown to have high reproduction number for COVID-19. Country like New Zealand revealed best pandemic response thanks to timely and aggressive lockdown containment strategy alogwith strongpolitical will. Conclusion: COVID-19 vaccine seems to be the single most important weapon that needs global focus. Pediatric vaccination, booster coverage, containment strategies with strict lockdowns amid delta, and omicron variants are some of the public health dilemmas offered by the pandemic to the public health specialist and policymakers which needs to be urgently addressed.