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- Title
COVID-19: Vulnerability and the power of privilege in a pandemic.
- Authors
Smith, James A.; Judd, Jenni
- Abstract
On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization announced that COVID-19 was characterised as a pandemic - a global first for coronavirus.[1] Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illness such as the common cold to more severe diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.[2] A novel coronavirus is typically a new strain of the infectious disease that has not been previously identified in humans.[2] COVID-19 is the most recent version of a novel coronavirus.[2] COVID-19 has received significant public and government attention over the past weeks after it was first detected in the Wuhan province of China in December 2019, with subsequent epidemics in China, Italy, Republic of Korea and Iran.[1] As of 12 March 2020, 125 000 cases were reported from 118 countries and territories globally, with predictions this will continue to rise rapidly.[3] This has led to an array of public health measures being advocated by the WHO, including four critical areas for action - (a) prepare and be ready; (b) detect, protect and treat; (c) reduce transmission; and (d) innovate and learn.[3] This has been complemented, to varying degrees, through concurrent action by local, state and national governments worldwide. Health literacy research that embraces new and emerging technologies will be particularly important to guide online health promotion efforts of this nature in the future. The Australian Government has since committed a $2.4 billion health package to protect all Australians from COVID-19, including vulnerable groups such as the elderly, those with chronic conditions and Indigenous communities.[5] The US Government pledged $50 billion on the same day.
- Subjects
COVID-19; H7N9 Influenza; MEDICAL personnel; SARS disease; EMERGING infectious diseases; PUBLIC health surveillance; EPIDEMICS; HEALTH services accessibility; HEALTH status indicators; HEALTH equity; AT-risk people; HEALTH &; social status
- Publication
Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 2020, Vol 31, Issue 2, p158
- ISSN
1036-1073
- Publication type
editorial
- DOI
10.1002/hpja.333