Recovery, Renewal, Resilience

Including:

• Dissemination of information about resurgence on a transparent website
• Encourage private healthcare facilities to undertake free testing
• Use volunteers to distribute testing kits as widely as possible, considering their safety

This lesson was contributed by a Civil Defence expert in Iceland during project data collection.

Consider measures to ensure safe return to social activities.

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/

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.

The aim of the survey can be to evaluate well-being and quality of life to assess the possible long-term impacts on health. Consider:

• An online survey on well-being completed now and repeated in a year's time
• Identification of any previous surveys conducted on wellbeing and comparison of the findings

The findings can inform policy development, project prioritisation, and evaluate health-based equality/inequality.

Including those who advise on/support financial issues, relationships, bereavement and mental health. Helplines in Iceland have seen a tripling in the number of callers and report that calls are becoming longer and more difficult.