The Coronavirus Pandemic and a City’s Public Health

First and foremost we ask you to join us in expressing our care and concern for all city leaders, emergency personnel and health care workers as they battle to protect their communities from the novel coronavirus pandemic spreading globally. It has never been more clear how critical it is for a city to be prepared for the unthinkable. We can readily see the need to have the infrastructure, emergency procedures and systems all in place that are strong enough to withstand the pandemic unfolding before our eyes. 

The CitiIQ measurement system includes an assessment of a city’s ability to meet its healthcare needs. The Public Health Consideration examines the existing infrastructure and support available to a city’s inhabitants, including the provisions for disasters like the ones we see today.

Those currently faced with the management of the coronavirus can look to the methods of containment and testing that have proven to be successful for the cities and nations that are now seeing a decline in new cases each day. Two of the most notable strategies that have been used include the testing methods seen in South Korea and the expedited construction of hospitals in China. The following is a summary: 

South Korean Approach to Testing:

South Korea has truly shown its resilience in the way that it has managed the coronavirus outbreak. As the 2nd most infected country in the world, South Korea has shown its ability to properly exercise control amidst chaos. South Korean cities have set up “Disaster and Safety Headquarters” which allow for drive-thru coronavirus testing, a 10-minute test that comes at no cost for all the city’s inhabitants. In addition to this, South Korea has identified areas that have been known to have the presence of the virus and have sent disinfecting crews to completely clean the affected area. [1] 

Chinese Rapid Construction of Hospitals:

As the country where the coronavirus was first discovered, China has truly had to withstand significant pressure as this unexpected outbreak caused them to act with speed and precision. One of the most significant measures taken in China came with the rapid construction of hospitals in the Wuhan region, the original site of the virus. China quickly recognized the pre-existing weaknesses in the public health infrastructure in the region and acted accordingly as it constructed two hospitals in a matter of days. [2]

As the western hemisphere begins to see vulnerabilities in their own public health infrastructure, city and national leaders can look to the aggressive and creative measures that each of these countries have used to attack the enemy and protect their citizens.

Let’s take this opportunity to pray for containment of the virus and remember all city leaders in their valiant fight for their people.

[1] Yoon, D.  (2020). How South Korea Put Into Place the World’s Most Aggressive Coronavirus Test Program. WSJ.

[2] Wang, J. (2020). How China Built Two Coronavirus Hospitals in Just Over a Week. WSJ.