In your view, what are the most pressing concerns for public policy considerations as it relates to COVID 19?

The COVID 19 pandemic has fundamentally challenged the management and delivery of health care in the United States. The recent public health emergency has placed demands for emergent and effective solutions in public policy and health care management at local, state and federal levels. The role of government in guiding policy and providing critical resources to the organization and delivery of health care in the United States remains an ongoing debate.
Please review the following link entitled, How COVID 19 has Changed Public Policy and review the five sections discussed.
June 24, 2020. “How COVID-19 Has Changed Public Policy.” Harvard Kennedy School, https://www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty-research/policy-topics/public-leadership-management/how-covid-19-has-changed-public-policy
After reviewing the link, please answer the following:
In your view, what are the most pressing concerns for public policy considerations as it relates to COVID 19?
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Blog 7 – Alexia Burnett
In your view, what are the most pressing concerns for public policy considerations as it relates to COVID 19?
This is a tough question because COVID 19 has impacted so many areas and brought forth concerns in public health, economy, education, government, environment, immigration, media and other areas. Each of these areas are important. This pandemic has brought to light the disparity in health care available to some communities which has made access to testing, treatment, and obtaining vaccinations very difficult. When these issues are a problem illness (whether COVID 19 or something else) will spread and be worse than it is in other communities. The hospitals in the area I worked in actually laid hundreds of doctors and nurses off because they cancelled all elective surgeries and non-emergent care. To lay off healthcare professionals in the middle of a health crisis seems counterproductive. Perhaps these doctors and nurses could have been reassigned to help with the disparity of care others were suffering. Of course, once this problem is addressed in the US, there is the global issue of disparity in health care resources as well.
While I understand these decisions were made out of an abundance of caution during unprecedented times, I feel it was a mistake for the government to forcibly close businesses for so long. This was devastating to economies and I personally know several families who lost their livelihoods and feel like they will never financially recover. Every job is essential on some level or those jobs and the businesses that provide them wouldn’t be in existence. Shutting things down led to a breakdown in the supply chain and caused shortages in groceries, medical supplies, and household goods that further strained an already difficult situation. Also, not everyone has a job that can be made remote or work from home and as a result many people suffered huge financial setbacks. Aside from the economic impacts of shut down, many people suffered emotional and mental hardships that added to the problems healthcare workers were dealing with.
I think that the government response to this at the federal, state, and local level revealed how divided our country is. No one could agree on the best course of action and absolutely everything (down to wearing a mask) became political. Instead of banding together to tackle this problem our leaders (federal, state, and local – regardless of political affiliation) became a bunch of squabbling babies who got nothing accomplished but more division of our citizens. Our leaders couldn’t even agree on what powers they had to intercede.
The issue of the media and the huge releases of misinformation and divisive information it doled out, missed education, environmental impacts, immigrants getting the help they need, and helping other nations are all important as well. As the faculty at Harvard Kennedy School pointed out, COVID 19 has brought to light a lot of big problems that need to be tackled. I think we need to start with strong, united, and decisive leaders who will tackle the healthcare disparity and economic issues that were revealed.

Ashtyn – Blog 7
COVID-19 has affected so many of us in many different ways. I believe one of the biggest concerns is the economy. I have seen so many concerns worldwide that have been brought to attention. One thing I have noticed that has brought concerns is the economy. So many small businesses that were doing so well have closed up because taxes became too expensive. If taxes keep increasing, many popular businesses/restaurants will start going out of business. I have started to see a slow increase in the economy given things are starting to open back up. The economy has affected so many of us during this pandemic and has made us more aware of what we really need to focus on.
Another concern I have noticed was the healthcare system. Given the severity of COVID-19, there shouldn’t have been as many people laid off as there were in the healthcare field. Their job is to make sure everyone is healthy and the fact that the main focus was COVID (as much as an issue it was) which has made those with other health problems pushed down on the list. Doctors and nurses that were laid off in this pandemic should have used their knowledge somewhere needed. That way they are still keeping up what they do, just a little differently until things go back to normal. Healthcare is so big, especially now, to have as many as they did lay off. This was a huge topic in my household given my mom is a nurse, as are many of her friends.

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