COVID-19 Pandemic: An analysis of what is working, what we have learned thus far, and the challenges that remain ahead

Authors

  • Attila J. Hertelendy, PhD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jem.2020.0482

Keywords:

COVID-19, pandemic, emergency management, virus

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic started globally with the first cases being reported as early as December 1, 2019 in Wuhan, China.1 The first US cases were reported January 20, 2020.2 To date we have 11,892,382 confirmed cases globally and 545,485 deaths.3 Ominously, as of July 2020, the number of cases continues to rise with the United States having the highest cases (3,016,515) and mortality rates in the world. The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unique challenges for emergency managers since most professionals have not experienced or managed a global pandemic. Complicating things further is the nature of SARS CoV-2 itself. As a novel virus we are still learning about the virus which requires adaptive changes to our current response as the pandemic evolves.

Author Biography

Attila J. Hertelendy, PhD

Adjunct Professor, Emergency and Disaster Management Program, Georgetown University, Washington, DC

References

World Health Organization: Pneumonia of unknown cause–China. 2020. Available at: https://www.who.int/csr/don/05-january-2020-pneumonia-of-unkown-cause-china/en/. Accessed April 1, 2020.

Holshue ML, DeBolt C, Lindquist S, et al.: First case of 2019 novel coronavirus in the United States. N Engl J Med. 2020; 385: 929-936. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2001191.

Johns Hopkins University: COVID 19 Dashboard. Available at https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html. Accessed July 8, 2020.

Burkle FM, Devereaux AV: 50 States or 50 Countries: What Did We Miss and What Do We Do Now? Prehospital Dis Med. 2020; 1-5. DOI:10.1017/S1049023X20000746.

Shultz J, Kossin J, Hertelendy AJ, et al.: Mitigating the Twin Threats of Climate Driven Atlantic Hurricanes and COVID-19 Transmission. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness [In-Press].

Barnett DJ, Rosenblum AJ, Strauss-Riggs K, et al.: Readying for a Post–COVID-19 World: The Case for Concurrent Pandemic Disaster Response and Recovery Efforts in Public Health. J Pub Health Manage Prac. 2020. 26(4): 310-313.

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Published

07/01/2020

How to Cite

Hertelendy, PhD, A. J. “COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis of What Is Working, What We Have Learned Thus Far, and the Challenges That Remain Ahead”. Journal of Emergency Management, vol. 18, no. 7, July 2020, pp. 7-8, doi:10.5055/jem.2020.0482.