Saving Lives and Livelihoods in the COVID-19 Pandemic: What Have We Learned, Particularly from Asia?

Derek Qi Ren Kok and Wing Thye Woo
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Derek Qi Ren Kok: Jeffrey Sachs Centre on Sustainable Developlment Sunway University Kuala Lumpur
Wing Thye Woo: Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia Sunway University Kuala Lumpur School of Economics Fudan University Shanghai Institute of Population and Labour Economics (IPLE) Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Beijing

Asian Economic Papers, 2021, vol. 20, issue 1, 1-29

Abstract: The key practices in successful government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic are (1) early border controls to contain the initial spread of the virus from abroad; (2) rapidly increasing the capacity of national health systems in terms of mobilizing staff, securing supplies (e.g., protective equipment and respiratory devices), and optimizing space (e.g., ensuring adequate numbers of acute and intensive care beds) to scale up testing-tracing-treating infrastructure; (3) promoting individual hygienic behavior such as social distancing and face mask use, which requires, respectively, active government enforcement of regulations against holding spreader events, and strong government intervention in the market to ensure adequate supplies; (4) fiscal measures to extend disaster relief to workers, businesses, and vulnerable populations; and (5) clear, concise, and consistent communications from leaders and authorities.

Date: 2021
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