Recovery, Renewal, Resilience

In the UK, five tests must be met:

Five alert levels are developed to guide the level of lockdown restrictions:

By taking the following steps:

• Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, and get plenty of sleep
• Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media
• Make time to unwind. Try to do some activities you enjoy
• Connect with others while practicing social distancing. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling
• Call your healthcare provider if stress gets in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row
• Only share accurate information about COVID-19 with others, and understand the actual risk that you and the people you care about face

This is a plan that will explain what is permitted and prohibited at each phase of easing the lockdown. The first phase would deliberately be called red, to ensure people stopped to think before they did things:

The red phase

• Some shops could re-open with strict social distancing, as most supermarkets do now
• Many shops might choose not to re-open for commercial reasons e.g. as demand would be low
• Travel should be discouraged and many international flights banned

The amber phase

• Over-65s should live as if under a hard lockdown
• Daily new cases <500 persons, Testing capacity >100k, Tracing capacity >50%, Shielding
• Work if your workplace is open and if you have a 'clear' reading on your contact tracing app. Use masks where possible. Otherwise only leave home as for Hard Lockdown
• Unlimited private car journeys allowed, although people are discouraged from crowded destinations
• Vary the rush hour with different opening and closing times to minimise pressure on public transport and reduce crowds
• Patrons encouraged to show a 'clear' reading on your contact tracing app. Must follow social distancing
• Wear masks and gloves when using public transport
• Restaurants could reopen but with strict seating demarcations to uphold social distancing
• Smaller shops could reopen

The green phase

• Daily new cases <100. Testing + tracing in place. Public gatherings <100 allowed
• Sporting events or mass gatherings could take place, and places of worship can reopen
• Mass transit could return to normal
• The return of international flights should be based on the risks of flying to other countries
• Macro-economic policies such as cutting VAT rates might be employed to boost spending

In Australia, the Victorian Government has set up a dedicated taskforce to energise the state's building and development industry as it continues running throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Government announced the approval of four new projects worth more than $1.5 billion dollars that will continue to function throughout pandemic shutdowns and economic recovery period.

This lesson was contributed by a Chief Resilience Officer in Australia during project data collection.

In Vietnam, the World Bank has stated that the economy has remained resilient.

Government measures to support economic recovery:

• A US$10.8 billion credit support package
• Lowered interest rates
• Delayed payment of taxes and land use fees for several business lines
• Banks cut online transaction fees to encourage cashless payment

Industry measures to support economic recovery:

• Retailers encouraged orders by phone and apps which allowed retailers to hire more delivery personnel to meet demand
• E-learning facilitated demand for hardware such as laptops and tablets and software services such as Zoom

For example:

• Consider how trusted experts can support discussions about the climate change agenda and inform public policy
• Consider how new behaviours adopted through the pandemic can be encouraged to support the climate change agenda, and how people's adaptability can be harnessed
• Consider how short-term actions can be embedded in longer-term climate change actions e.g. the reduction of unnecessary air travel (e.g. for business meetings) and the encouragement of more home-working (e.g. using videoconferencing)
• Learn from 'known unknowns' - foreseen possibilities that are not obviously (such as pandemics and climate change) and therefore lacked effective emergency planning

In Korea, the COVID-19 Data Platform is:

Designed to:

• Support epidemiological analysts to quickly identify the transmission routes and places that an infected person has visited
• Use real-time analysis of data through location tracking, card transactions, and CCTV recordings for accurate tracing of routes and places

The process of using the app is:

• Citizens voluntarily record their whereabouts on their smartphones using Google Timeline
• The 'My Timeline' function on the Google Maps automatically records the users location and routes
• Data on Google Timeline can be captured as screenshots and shared with epidemiological investigators, who will use the data to trace contacts

The platform supports health officials to:

• Confirm the interview results of patient transmission routes with data on the system
• Allow big data analysis from real-time data feeds on COVID-19 patients, including their whereabouts and the time spent on each location
• Use these multiple data points to detect incidents of cluster infection and transmission sources for prompt

The Icelandic's Directorate for Health has issued guidelines for how organisers should run a range of social activities as the lockdown measures are relaxed. This case study outlines those guidelines but you should refer to the original advice provided by the Icelandic authorities (websites referenced in original case study - follow the source link below to view p.18-19):

Opening campsites, caravan parks, small guest-houses

When opening these establishments as well as running organised tours and outdoor recreation activities, organisers should:

• Prevent guests from entering/participating if they are: under quarantine; in isolation or awaiting test results; isolating due to a COVID-19 infection within the last 14 days; displaying symptoms
• Clean and disinfect all common areas and contact surfaces at least twice per day
• Limit to 50 people the number of people allowed in each disease control space (where a disease control space is an indoors or outdoors division of an area)
• Ensure the social distancing 2-metre rule is respected
• Provide easy access to hand-washing facilities and hand sanitiser
• Limit interactions between different travelling groups

Opening activities for 16 year olds and younger

When operating activities for this age group, all restrictions are lifted for children and teens, 16 years and younger, in preschools and primary and lower secondary schools, and in sports and youth activities. Organisers are permitted to return to pre-COVID operating procedures and:

• Note that the 2-metre social distancing rule does not apply to this age group
• Not restrict the number of participants
• Permit all indoor and outdoor sports and youth activities
• Open all ski areas to children and teens for training
• Open swimming pools, dressing and swimming areas for training
• Permit all sports competitions between children at the preschool and primary and lower secondary school age - no spectators allowed
• Encourage special hand-washing and hygiene measures

Opening sports activities for individuals aged 17 and over

When operating activities for this age group, organisers must adhere to the following restrictions:

• In outdoors areas, at most 7 people (including coaches) are allowed in the size of a half football field (2,000 m2)
• In indoors areas, at most 4 people (including coaches) are allowed in the size of one handball court (800 m2)
• Indoor dressing facilities are not used
• Adult swimming is allowed, at most 7 people - using dressing/shower facilities is permitted
• Emphasise respect for the 2-metre social distancing rule
• Competitions for adults are prohibited unless the 2-metre rule is applied - no spectators allowed
• Encourage special hand-washing and hygiene measures
• Swimming pools are closed to the public

Instructions for travellers

Travellers and travel operators must adhere to the following restrictions:

• Carriers transporting international passengers into Iceland are required to complete a Public Health Passenger Locator (PHPL) form, or similarAll passengers will be required to present such a form during border checks
• According to IATA, a PHPL form is completed by passengers to whenever public health officers suspect a communicable disease is on-board a flight and the information will help public health officers to contact passengers if exposed to a communicable disease

IATA give example forms at https://www.iata.org/en/programs/safety/health/locator-form/Iceland National Commission pf the Icelandic Police, Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management 22.04.2020

Instructions for beauty salons, hairdressers, opticians and similar activities with proximity to customers.

When providing personal care every facility/employee is responsible to maintain emergency levels of civil protection. Staff and customers must adhere to the restrictions that:

• Prevent staff and customers from entering/participating if they: are under quarantine or have been abroad in the last 14 days; are in isolation or awaiting test results; are isolating due to a COVID-19 infection within the last 14 days; displaying symptoms
• Respect the 2 metre rule
• Keep good ventilation, open window
• Remove any distance signs where possible and appropriate
• Set up facilities to disinfect contact surfaces as often as possible, at least between customers
• Staff wash hands between each customer
• Ensure staff wear personal protective equipment (PPE) in case of suspected infection, otherwise, no PPE is needed. If both the staff and the customer are asymptomatic (or improved), and other conditions are met, it is possible to not wear masks and gloves, but put a strong emphasis on hand washing
• Remove ancillary items for customers to use (e.g. magazines, coffee pots)
• Dispose of rubbish in sealed bags and place in bins
• Sprinkle all equipment (tables, chairs, tools) between guests with appropriate disinfectant as often as possible, at least between customers

The government also provides advice for the opening of physiotherapy services (https://www.landlaeknir.is/servlet/file/store93/item41436/sj%C3%BAkra%C3%BEj%C3%A1lfun%20og%20samb%C3%A6rilegt02.05.2020.pdf).

This case study should be read alongside the official instructions from the government of Iceland - available from the URLs provided in the source links below and footnotes in the original case study in The Manchester Briefing on COVID-19 Issue 6.

In Hawai'i, there are plans to enhance and stimulate the economy in an equitable manner to:

• Shift the reliance on a precarious tourist industry (which offers low wages to residents, especially women) and address the social and ecological costs of tourism
• Establish an adjustment fund to support displaced workers though retraining, enabling professional mobility, and supporting social entrepreneurship
• Establish gender and racial equity programs to enhance women's access to investment capital. This should extend beyond low-wage sectors, the commercial sex industry, and male dominated industries
• Invest in subsistence living
• Encourage traditional land- and sea-based practices to maximise the ecological and food system

Micro-volunteering opportunities have been developed in Salford, UK. 'Heroes from Home' support the wider COVID-19 response by sharing important messages to help to keep communities safe during the pandemic. Volunteers are encouraged to use their own social media accounts to share or post information about Salford's response - helping to ensure it is highly visible and readily available to those who need it.

For example:

• Collect data on the mental health effects of COVID-19 across the population and vulnerable groups
• Monitor and report the rates of anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicide, and other mental health issues
• Determine what psychological support is available to front-line medical/health-care staff and their families
• Determine the best ways to signpost and deliver mental health services for vulnerable groups, including online clinics and community support
• Use health messages to optimise behaviour change and reduce unintended mental health issues
• Design longer-term strategies to address an increased volume of mental health issues and their impacts on service demand
• Target population-level interventions to prevent and treat mental health symptoms (e.g. anxiety) and boost coping and resilience (e.g. exercise)
• Synthesise an evidence base of lessons learned for future pandemics, tailored to specific groups, to motivate and enable people to prepare psychologically and plan for future scenarios

Consider measures to ensure safe return to social activities.

Children across Northampton, UK who had a parent that worked in the local police force, received a letter from the Chief Constable. The letter:

• Thanked children for 'sharing their parents' and for the child 'being part of the team'
• Thanked children for washing their hands properly, doing their school work and only going for one walk a day, making it possible for their parents to work

In California, the "Stay Home. Save Lives. Check In." initiative has been developed in partnership with the California Department of Aging, and three founding partners from the public, private and academic sectors. The project aims to counter strict social distancing with social bridging (one-on-one communication with older adults through check-in phone calls). The project will:

• Train and mobilise >1000 people to telephone call older Californians to check on their well-being, direct them to resources, and connect them on a personal level
• Prioritise reaching the most isolated older adults those living in pandemic hot spots, and those likely to be facing food insecurity via "Social Bridgers"
• Train callers to assess basic needs and make referrals. Callers will use a tested call script to ensure consistency and reliability and will empathise with each individual's experience of this pandemic
• Use Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), trained volunteers affiliated with local public safety agencies
• Utilise United Airlines employees in San Francisco, San Jose and Los Angeles as they have a robust employee donation and volunteer system for disasters
• Use Sacramento State University gerontology students
• Expand partnerships in the coming weeks. Members of the public are not being solicited as callers at this time

For example:

• Consider sustainable recovery schemes that end fossil fuel subsidies in developed countries
• Consider whether specific growth targets which have been harmful to the environment are the most appropriate goal at this time
• Encourage a shift in hierarchy from GDP to the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement, CITES or the Convention on Biodiversity

This includes the built environment including buildings and roads and green spaces, like parks. Consider how future development of the environment can mitigate possible resurgence of COVID-19 infection by providing space to better facilitate social distancing. Consider:

• Incorporate into planning approval, criteria that new housing development proposals should include green space including 'green roofs' or communal gardens and squares
• Incorporate into planning approval, criteria that new building developments do not reduce public walkways - indeed, they should look to expand public walkways
• Use abandoned spaces as pocket parks (with limitations on the number of people allowed in together)
• Temporarily close roads to provide more walking space

/ul>

This lesson was contributed by a Chief Resilience Officer in the Netherlands during project data collection.

Additionally the need to identify a social work action plan to support families and vulnerable people as restricted movements are relaxed. This plan can identify:

• The social work skills needed to support families and vulnerable children
• The projected demand for such skills
• The capacity of the current social work system to deliver those skills
• Shortfalls in supply versus demand of skills
• Skills can be supported through non-social work providers such as volunteer organisations
• The training, supervision and resources are needed for volunteers to be safely involved
• What types of families and vulnerable children may be supported with those skills from non-social work providers
• The shortfall in families and vulnerable children who will need professionally-trained social workers
• How that shortfall can be addressed by professional social workers
• How many professional social workers can be trained, and when they will be available to work
• How to address any remaining shortfall in the short term

COVID-19 has affected populations and individuals (people) -whether directly or indirectly. Compared to previous pandemics its effects are more far-reaching, and recovery will be not only focused on physical and mental health but also on the system; economic, infrastructure, the environment and wider humanitarian issues. In this briefing, we focus on the challenges for the health and care system in the UK using the lenses of people, place and processes, which are underpinned by partnerships and power. We show that recovery on health and care systems alone will not be sufficient to address the impact of this pandemic, and highlight the challenges for the health and care system.

This briefing was written by the Recovery team at the University of Manchester. To read this briefing in full, following the source link below to The Manchester Briefing Issue 6 (p.2-8).

Including:

• The pressure on vital sexual and reproductive health services (including for women subjected to violence) and how provisions can be maintained
• The provision of hotlines, crisis centres, shelters, legal aid, and protection services and impacts of scaling these back
• Identifying and evaluating outreach methods to support those at risk of abuse within their own home
• Plans for the safety of health workers (the majority of whom are women) who may be at risk of violence in their own home and at work
• How to include men in conversations about violence towards women

This should seek to maintain operations whilst minimising virus transmission. For example, operations in Paris:

• Wash and disinfect collection trucks every day
• Prioritise the collection of unauthorized garbage and street cleaning (using street washers and vacuum cleaners on pathways)
• Collect waste from streets e.g. each day ~1,000 municipal workers, ~250 garbage collection trucks, and ~100 road sweeping machines collect waste from the streets
• Clean ~140 public toilets in order to keep them open - thereby provide considerable health and dignity benefits to the most vulnerable. These facilities also have drinking water fountains
• Plan to manage the surge in the volume of waste when restaurants reopen (in Paris, the volume of daily waste has fallen by a third during closedown)

Workers' compensation benefits may be required for registered volunteers that are injured while participating in authorized disaster-related activities. This can include injury sustained during pre-approved training, and covers activities undertaken in the response or recovery phases of a disaster or emergency. It does not include the day-to-day emergency response activities typically associated with, for example, law enforcement, fire services or emergency medical services. This may need to be supported by appropriate legislation.

This lesson was contributed by a Disaster Management expert in the USA during project data collection.

Those already strained by COVID-19:

• This could include using GIS mapping to consider allocation of resources and areas most likely to be worst affected. For example, the sorts of mitigations needed to minimise transmission of the virus during evacuation and sheltering
• Analyse existing strategies to develop disaster-plus-COVID-19 scenarios. Thinking of Hurricane Katrina as an example, 20,000 people took refuge in the Superdrome stadium. Disasters like this force people to gather in close proximity in higher numbers than recommended by health authorities for countering the COVID-19 outbreak
• Consider also that vulnerable people are particularly affected by disasters and infectious diseases and may already be disadvantaged through COVID-19

Researchers have initiated the study "COVID-19 National Resilience Cohort" in Iceland. The nationwide project aims to gather information on the effects of Covid-19 on quality of life and on health and well-being. The study will:

• Aim to plan even better future responses to the effects of such events
• Be limited to all individuals who are 18 and older, residing in Iceland, with electronic/Bank IDs
• Require participates to answer a web-based questionnaire on: mental and physical health; exposure to COVID-19 related factors within the family; change in lifestyle; and social interactions
• Follow participants in subsequent study waves (one year later) and link to nationwide health registers
• Recruit study participants in April/May 2020 via social media awareness campaigns as well as invite participants of previous studies to join

The website for the study is: https://lidanicovid.is/

In China, where SMEs make up 80% of Chinese businesses, the following measures were adopted to encourage recovery:

• SMEs were exempt from social security contributions, tax payments, and social insurance schemes for up to 5 months. Social insurance schemes include pension payments and employment injury payments
• Government provided procurement opportunities
• Utility fees and rent from the state were waived
• Help was provided to migrant workers as SMEs often rely on their labour. Government organised door-to-door transportation from workers' homes to their work, and job matching and job searching tools were developed to help those out of work find employment in struggling businesses

This lesson was contributed by a Global Development Expert in China during project data collection.

While most of the messages on COVID-19 have been directed at adults, children have been significantly affected by COVID-19 too. Children have been taken away from their friends, cannot see grandparents, are prevented from attending school, not have gardens to play in, and the clubs they attend have been disrupted. This should be acknowledged and children should be thanked for their patience. This can help support children in their understanding of evolving recovery measures such as exit strategies from lockdown and phased school return.

This lesson was offered by a Risk Management expert in Iceland during project data collection.

There have been a range of incident types against key workers, so:

• Ensure deliberate coughing and spitting is addressed in official policy such as the UK Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act
• Patrol areas in which key workers work to provide protection from assault and mugging as a result of workers' association with COVID-19 response, and assumptions that some workers have access to medicine and food
• Release official statements from law enforcers to the public to bring attacks on key workers to light. Use the opportunity to fact-check claims which may appear on social media such as the one claiming that an Italian doctor had been charged with killing over 3,000 COVID-19 patients

Actively investigate hoax messages purportedly from official Government sources that could put key workers at risk

This includes considering:

• Investment opportunities that align with pre-existing policy initiatives e.g. investment in cycling infrastructure and extending bike hire agreements
• Community engagement to increase carbon neutral commuting e.g. encouraging the development of community groups organising carbon neutral commute
• Partnership opportunities to facilitate working from home e.g. collaborating with local businesses to arrange work from home days

This lesson was offered by a chif Resilience Officer in the Netherlands during project data collection.

In the UK, parts of the city of York is made up of very narrow lanes in which social distancing would not be possible. The following measures, which could be applied to other locations with similar city designs are considered:

• Develop a pedestrian one-way-system with road markings, cones or barriers to mitigate people having to pass closely to one another. Consider markings that are temporary to preserve areas of historic interest
• Install hand sanitiser dispensers on streets, recognising that these may be alcohol based
• Initiate measures to keep pedestrians moving such as restricting photography

Scammers impersonate government agencies providing information on COVID-19 through text messages and emails 'phishing' for your information. These contain malicious links and attachments designed to steal your personal and financial information. Provide examples of what to look for on a dedicate website such as: Scamwatch (https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/current-covid-19-coronavirus-scams).

Communicate tips to the public such as:

• Do not click on hyperlinks in text/social media messages or emails, even if it appears to come from a trusted source
• Go directly to the website through your browser. For example, to reach the MyGov website type 'my.gov.au' into your browser yourself
• Never respond to unsolicited messages and calls that ask for personal or financial details, even if they claim to be a from a reputable organisation or government authority - just press delete or hang up

By circulating through social media, encrypted messaging services, online discussion boards and face to face interaction. To achieve this, organisations might consider:

• Identifying fake news and actively debunking it on own social media accounts and public display boards
• Closely monitor automated systems for errors. In Australia the CovidSafe App alarmed and confused users with a message telling them that they had contracted coronavirus when trying to upload their information, despite not being tested. Additionally, in Ukraine, residents attacked busses with evacuees from China after a hoax email falsely attributed to the Ministry of Health suggested some carried the virus
• Supporting the public to think critically about, question and fact-check information they receive
• Working with community leaders to circulate useful, accurate information
• Monitoring and evaluating the impact of their own communication strategy, possibly working with partners such as universities to undertake social media analytics

This response can include having the flexibility to create new capacity in the health system perhaps by creating new 'field' hospitals or by creating more space in existing hospitals.

For example, in the UK, capacity in the health system is being created by moving patients that are not at risk into hotels and similar facilities to free up health services for at-risk patients. Hotels in Dorset UK, with support from the local council, have offered rooms to "free up urgent bed space in the NHS by taking low risk patients and carers and being part of the solution... 230 hotels prepared to reopen their door". Developing a roster of hotels and similar spaces that can be used in case of resurgence would support emergency planning.

Consider:

• The cash flow of SMEs and their profit margin. In Sweden, SMEs can generally manage their cash flow at this time for around 6 weeks and only have margins of 2-3% to rely on which makes them extremely vulnerable
• The eligibility of SMEs for government loans. Many struggling businesses are unable to apply for government loans, and while it is possible to borrow, and postpone payment on value-added tax (VAT), known in some countries as a goods and services tax, interest needs to be paid which can be unaffordable resulting n businesses preferring to file for bankruptcy
• The wider negative impacts of increased bankruptcies e.g. consumers and companies becoming more conscious about lending and spending which can stifle the economy further

This lesson was contributed by a Security Expert in Sweden.

In Spain phases have been identified with regards to ending lockdown - although in some cases no defined timeframes have been applied. At present the intention is for full re-opening to happen by the end of June. The markers for each change of phase will depend on:

• The strategic capacity of Spain's health system, including primary care, the situation in hospitals and the number of intensive care unit (ICU) beds available
• The epidemiological situation, including testing, the infection rate and other indicators
• The collective compliance with protection measures in the workplace, businesses and public transport
• The evaluation of mobility and socioeconomic data

The four phases are also being implemented at a different pace in different regions (Spain has 50 provinces) according to "the epidemiological evolution" of each province.

Phase 0

• Citizens can go outside for exercise
• Small businesses will be able to open if they can offer appointments, such as hardware stores or restaurants that offer food to take away
• You will also be able to book appointments at the hairdresser. Staff in such establishments will have to wear protective equipment, such as masks and gloves

Phase 1

• Journeys to second residences will be allowed providing that they are in the same region
• The government recommends the use of masks on public transport, where it is not always possible to maintain a distance of two meters with other travellers
• Social contact between people in the same city who are not considered to be at risk (i.e. the elderly and people with underlying conditions) will be possible
• Travel in a car with people you live with under the conditions of Phase 1 is permitted
• Sidewalk cafes will be able to open, albeit at 30% of their usual capacity. This means that you will be able to have a drink with friends on a terrace, but not visit your family members in another region
• You will also be able to meet with friends or family in their homes if they are in the same region, but the details of how many people can meet and the conditions are yet to be determined
• Hotels will also be able to reopen, but there will be no common areas available to guests, such as the buffet

Phase 2

• Citizens will be able to enter the inside of bars and restaurants, with a limit of 30% of capacity. Cinemas, theatres and auditoriums will also reopen with a similar limit on capacity, as well as monuments and exhibition centres
• Cultural events such as concerts will be possible, albeit with a third of their usual capacity. At outdoor events, up to 400 people will be allowed, provided they are seated
• Visits to people in homes with disabilities will be allowed, but not to seniors
• Schools will offer classes for the children under the age of six if their parents require it to be able to go to work, while students will also be able to complete their university entrance exams. Schools in Spain will not reopen fully until September
/ul>

Phase 3

• Relaxation of mobility restrictions, albeit with a continued recommendation to wear masks outside of the home, and above all, on public transport
• Bars will be able to open with a limit of 50% of capacity
• Some regions could get to this stage before others, meaning that travel between them will only be possible if they are both in the same situation
• There has, as yet, been no confirmation of when national flights and non-essential train journeys will be possible once more

Follow the source link below to read this case study in its original format (including references).

There has been a surge in homelessness as many businesses remain closed. In London, people working in service industries have been particularly affected. This often includes those working in bars, restaurants and hotels. Consider:

• How day centres offering support to the homeless can safely reopen again e.g. considering staffing requirements, PPE and how to accommodate service users
• Whether additional sites in community halls could be opened to assist with distancing guidelines, or sites with parking space could be used to manage queues
• The impact of closed cafes and soup kitchens on homeless people's access to food, including how volunteers could be utilised to effectively provide food
• How to keep homeless people connected: Many outreach organisations require a telephone number to call when accommodation or services are available. Closed cafes and public facilities mean there is nowhere to charge phones. With volunteers and charities, consider if some facilities could be opened to provide charge points, or outreach teams can be provided with wireless chargers. People could charge their phones at supervised charging stations
• How information about homeless people can be gathered. Many of those on the streets do not have access to benefits. Through soup kitchens or charge points, information about homeless individuals could be recorded and provided to local authorities
• Educating employers about safeguarding their precarious workers. Many newly homeless people worked in hospitality or through agencies and immediately lost their job. Employers could provide workers they cannot employ with government and charity-led information about who to contact, the benefits systems, and other welfare information

Consider:

• Images are a useful tool for educating and reassuring children about COVID-19 and how they can stay safe
• Images are a useful tool to convey messages, or practices i.e. effective hand washing, those who speak another language and for those who are not able to read
• Images are a useful tool to provide information to people with disabilities to communicate ideas and practices in an accessible format

This lesson was offered by a Digital Transformation Specialist in India during project data collection.

This includes converting spontaneous volunteers (SVs) into long-term volunteers by signing them up to established volunteer organisations so they can contribute on an ongoing basis. Key areas to consider include:

• Identify contribution of SVs to C19 so far - assess the nature and scale of SV volunteering effort and the gap left if SVs stop
• Share good news stories - to help SVs know that they are making a difference
• Needs assessment - identity ongoing tasks needed by service beneficiaries that may be suitable for volunteers
• Motivate SVs - create compelling case studies of the need. These will outline who are the service beneficiaries of those tasks and how volunteers have helped them. Communicate that SV opportunities will stop
• Identify sorts of volunteers needed - identify the skills and commitment needed from the volunteer so they can self-select tasks they want to perform
• Identify volunteer organisations - partner with a handful of volunteer organisations that volunteers can work through to fulfil each task. This can give volunteers a manageable list of organisations to select between. Short descriptions of the organisations can outline their different shapes so volunteers can identify the right organisation for them
• Remove SV opportunities - close down SV effort and convert willing SVs to ongoing volunteers
• Follow up volunteers - local government/voluntary organisations conduct welfare calls with volunteers to ensure that they are ok after their volunteering and to see if they have/want to convert. Facilitate conversion if needed
• Follow up voluntary organisations - local government complete the loop to see how many SVs have converted

Reference: UK County Councils

These should be disseminated to workers and to the public to protect people as many services go online. Consider:

1. Using an updated firewall to provide barriers between data and cyberattacks; this should be done at organisational and personal levels
2. Documenting and sharing cybersecurity policies including training, checklists and organisation-specific information
3. Planning security for mobile devices include wearable technology which can include personal information. Ensure security updates and password policies are in place to any mobile device accessing the network.
4. Providing training and education for all employees on risks and how to identify malicious activity i.e. phishing emails
5. Regularly updating employees on protocols and security policy
6. Encouraging changing of passwords every 60-90 days, and the use of complex passwords with combinations of uppercase letters, numbers and symbols
7. Regularly backing up all data and checking the function
8. Installing anti-malware software to mitigate phishing emails
9. Using multifactor identification and virtual private networks (VPNs) to provide an extra layer of protection

And ensure the consistency of all planning. For example:

Consider a national emergency plan with uniform standards for the gradual return to normality that:

1. Supports hospital systems and expand surge and testing capacity
2. Protects vulnerable populations, including seniors and those with access and functional needs
3. Supports homeless population and shelters through emergency protective measures
4. Ensures continuity of first responders and healthcare workforce
5. Provides state and federal economic impact assistance, including financial support for those economical areas that may only be allowed to resume operations at the last moment
6. Executes task force objectives and continue mid and long-term advance planning

Reference: Civil Protection experts in Germany and the USA.

Attempts to quarantine and sanitise informal settlements at the time of the 2014 Ebola crisis ended with mixed, if not poor results, along with violence and revolts due to poor preparation, planning and information sharing with the population. Consideration of these issues during a global pandemic is important to mitigate the risk of resurgence

Singapore's recent spike in COVID-19 cases is an example of this issue; the spike originated from the country's vast migrant worker population who live in poor conditions in crowded dormitories. Workers have been quarantined in their small, over-populated rooms for two weeks. It will be important to consider health and well-being and the potential for unrest in these contexts.

Cities such as Milan, Italy are developing strategies to retain street space from cars, providing 35km (22 miles) of transformed streets to accommodate an experimental citywide expansion of cycling and walking space to protect residents as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. The Strade Aperte plan includes low-cost temporary cycle lanes, new and widened pavements, 30kph (20mph) speed limits, and pedestrian and cyclist priority streets. The locations include a low traffic neighbourhood on the site of the former Lazzaretto.

Similar plans for investments in bicycle-friendly infrastructure is being considered in the Netherlands, with a focus on expansion of the programme in cities and suburbs.

Reference: Chief Resilience Officer, Netherlands

Understanding children's perspectives is important to provide children with an outlet to express themselves, and for adults to gain a better understanding of how children view their situation.

• Consider creative activities where children can explore their feelings about COVID-19, this could include drawings, video blogs or music. One example, is a collection of drawings and messages collated by the BBC, showcasing children's perspectives about the world they are living in. These types of activities could be recurring, and could be developed to address a number of issues i.e. lockdown, not going to school, fear, bereavement.
• Similar activities could support communities in emotional and social recovery from the impacts of COVID-19 and could provide innovative ways for adults and children to explore bereavement, memorials and commemoration.
• Children's pictures of colourful flowers in windows can make their walks more enjoyable and brighten the nation. The rainbows can be refreshed to create a refreshed vibe for the children to engage with.

Acting on information is a result not only of how the information is presented but of the way the subconscious operates; underlying beliefs, attitudes and motivations. The following can be considered:

• Connect precautions for COVID-19 to aspirational movements, like community spirit and local pride – keeping your community safe
• Leverage people’s desire to do the right thing for others in all aspects of their lives – e.g. what would your own grandmother want?
• Use images of famous people in protective gear delivering food – e.g. members of the Royal Family
• Feature celebrity athletes and movie stars telling people to shelter at home – e.g. through TV advertising

It will take a steady stream of messages to shift behaviour: this is not a one-off activity

Lockdown could be eased through:

• Gradual school reopening because children are at low risk, and there are high economic and educational costs to school closure
• Gradual return to work with younger people first (age segmentation) as they are relatively less at risk of COVID-19 than older people
• Gradual return to work by sector/workplace (sector segmentation) as some pose less risky than others
• Gradual release of lockdown by geography (geographic segmentation) as COVID-19 cases and NHS capacity vary across regions

Consider risk assessments for each of these options, since there are challenges with each e.g. cross-sector supply chains limit the benefits of sector segmentation.

Consider the following factors in the assessment:

• Costs vs. benefits
• How quickly can it be done?
• Will it be seen as fair?
• How practical is it?
• Can it be enforced?

In Australia there is a highly organised and well-tested communications system that utilises standard emergency communications procedures used for other disasters such as forest fires. Australian risk managers highlighted two issues which may be useful for others.

In order to deliver efficient and effective communication during an emergency, an understanding of how the public perceives and receives this information; awareness of cognitive bias , which shapes the way people understand the information provided to them, is needed[1]. Cognitive bias impacts decision-making as a result of how events are remembered by individuals and influences behaviours that can impact recovery. For example, not showing symptoms of COVID-19 and therefore believing you are immune or won’t infect others. Other cognitive bias is related to people’s selectivity about what they pay attention to which has implications for retaining and enacting public health advice. This may be mitigated by:

• Communicating testimonials and stories to challenge peoples thinking about practices that are safe and unsafe
• Sharing transparent and consistent information across all platforms to reduce misinformation and distrust
• Providing easy to find information through mechanisms such as Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to reduce ambiguity
• Providing information that supports collective action towards a solution so people feel they are part of solving the problem and understand that change is required

To addresses some of these biases, health messaging experts in Australia called for:

• Effective use of television streaming services, social media and news services, rather than use of posters that had unclear messages and images
• More effective communications from politicians that answer questions in snappy sentences rather than long answers where people become confused or lose interest, and consistent slogans like Australia’s ‘Help stop the spread and stay healthy’.
• Engaging and emotive video advertising that highlight the impact individual’s actions can have on others such as their loved ones[2]

In addition, trust and transparency were seen as important. This requires:

• Openness about data collection and the source of that data
• Information that is shared in a “fearless and transparent” [3] way to provide open, real-time information. This was also seen in Korea and was attributed to them swiftly and successfully flattening the curve[4].
• Government to consistently share information to media outlets, and for media outlets to responsibly use verified information to reduce public speculation[5].
• Use of known and trusted mechanisms for the public to access information[6], such as those already set up in Australia for disasters
  

References:

[1] Risk Manager 1

[2] https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/mar/24/australia-is-crying-out-for-clearer-messaging-on-coronavirus-rambling-politicians-told

[3] Risk Manager 1

[4] Nature. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00740-y

[5] Risk Manager 1

[6] Risk Manager 2

The original format of this case study (including references) can be read in the source link below (p.15).

Renewable energy sources can reduce pressure on the system as they are independent of the grid and diesel fuel back-up, they can power hospitals, schools, water treatment plants and water distribution, telecommunications, banking systems, police stations and critical agriculture production to maintain food supplies.

Consider:

• Leveraging successes - identify parts of the organization that are working successfully under the current circumstances, and what can be learned about this for future operations
• The activities of the organization - identify parts of the organisation that need to be re-opened, re-started, or increased to full(er) capacity
• Who needs to return to the work - identify the location first i.e. who is able to continue to work from home, and the possibility of terminating employment due to reduced need
• Safeguards - identify what is needed to ensure that people returning to work are safe, give consideration to the potential for lawsuits if people have to be in harm's way to keep their jobs
• Agile financial management - where the organisation manages its finances using decision support, predictive analytics, and performance management, enabling it to operate with agility

Reference: President of an NGO, USA

Many charitable and voluntary organisations are vital to ensure their communities function in periods of normalcy but may not be active in COVID-19 response. Consider:

• How voluntary organisations that are currently inactive can be supported, and their services retained
• The value of non-response organisations and their connections with local people and other diverse organisations, and how their services could be integrated or partnered with response organisations
• How these organisations can be operationalised during recovery to sustain informal voluntary actions that have arisen from COVID-19 responses, to ensure inclusive and resilient communities.

Reference: UK Voluntary Sector Report

Consider:

• How prayer spaces will be managed for keyworkers- allocate suitable spaces with social distancing requirements in mind, provide adequate notice should a prayer space be closed for cleaning
• Public information regarding Iftar and Eid; the breaking of fasting each day (Iftar) is usually a sociable even. Remind the public that despite its personal religious importance, social distancing measures need to be observed. The same measures also apply to the end of Ramadan (Eid). Eid is on Saturday, 23 May 2020, and even if some lockdown restrictions have been eased, it is important to remind the public that social distancing is still required. Consider working through local leaders, community members and where appropriate the police, to ensure public safety
• These lessons are applicable to other major religious events, or holidays - consider processes to manage events such as Diwali, etc. While later on in the year, it is likely social distancing measures will still need to be observed

This briefing shares our early thinking on recovery and renewal, and the opportunities COVID-19 has offered. We identify the opportunity to recover and renew how power and partnerships support working across five groups: national, local partnerships, organisations, local communities, and people. We call for the need to think about people, place, and, processes which have to recover and renew.

To read this briefing in full, follow the source link below to TMB Issue 4 p.2-6

This may help communities feel they have ownership over information rather than simply being told.

For particular groups consider:

• Providing parents with skills to handle their own anxieties and help manage those in their children
• Provide information in accessible formats for those with disabilities
• Offer multiple forms of communication e.g. text captioning, signed video, online material suitable for use with assistive technology
• Support the translation of information into the preferred languages for different groups, ensuring that refuges and migrant groups are included
• Adjust information for community perceptions, beliefs and practices