The importance of initial response during outbreaks: A perspective from observations on COVID-19

Three countries and sovereignties that have managed COVID-19 remarkably well (Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan) happen to be densely populated regions whose citizens frequently travel to and from mainland China, which makes their achievement noteworthy. Since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, these countries and sovereignties have made testing widely available and accessible and have carried out rigorous contact tracing, thus facilitating the diagnosis and treatment of every case. [...]Italy, Spain, and the United States are among the many countries experiencing severe social and economic turmoil today. Furthermore, increasing numbers of patients are receiving medical and surgical care in outpatient facilities to increase hospital efficiencies.8 Second, understaffing and reduced ICU occupancies over the years,9 in a bid to reduce hospital-acquired infections,10 have undermined the ability to provide critical care during mass-casualty incidents.