Overview

In the absence of effective treatments or a vaccine, governments depend on public policy to respond to COVID-19. This article reviews key issues surrounding transitions – the “closing” and “reopening” of economies during the pandemic. It identifies a number of key issues such as the use of data to inform decisions and the localisation of lockdowns, as well as key questions about how decisions are made and implemented. Identifying leadership, financing, key stakeholders, data, and communications strategies for different issues has proven crucial to managing transitions.