Recovery, Renewal, Resilience

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

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.

Additionally, consider where the biggest bottlenecks are, and respond by changing your focus 'as you go'. Use data and feedback loops now to get a market-level perspective that is targeted and can support forecasting for recovery.

In Korea, The Cellular Broadcasting Service enables government agencies to transmit text messages to cell phones through mobile telecom carriers in Korea. This service is particularly useful during an emergency but also builds resilience into the system for the future.

Metropolitan and local governments in Korea are equipped with a system that can send messages to their residents without having to receive approval from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS). This allows them to make their own locally relevant decisions.

As tents do not provide long-term solution to surges in patients and are no suitable for longer periods of disease in winter. Instead develop "shadow" or auxiliary hospital wards as a spatial reserve for disasters and pandemics. Auxiliary wards would build resilience into the healthcare system for pandemics.

Reference: Expert in Civil Contingency, Germany

Also consider that experts within education have stated that social distancing within schools will not be possible at primary or secondary level.

Additionally, carefully consider inventory levels at every step in the supply chain. Modern supply chain and preferred supplier practices have struggled to ensure reliable and durable supply of masks and ventilators at the scale needed in this pandemic. When a (global) pandemic strikes this can remove the supplier and therefore the products from the market. Develop supply chain resilience through the use of several strategic suppliers rather than seeking exclusive supply from single manufacturers at low price points.

Reference: UK county Council, NHS Emergency Planner and an expert in Civil Contingency, Germany

Software and cyber experts can only do so much. Informed workers remain the best line of defence, and can ensure the resilience and safety of technical systems for recovery.

Consider the redeployment of government staff and volunteers can help at the homes and for domiciliary care. Testing of staff and available PPE is essential for these support services to work.

Reference: UK County Council

This should include people who are part of the wider working society e.g. municipal waste workers, those involved in food production and distribution, as well as the more obvious workers (health related and response). This would support both the reopening of key services and the economy.

Reference: Chief Resilience Officer, USA

Measures should prevent the entry and spread of COVID-19 by students and staff. Students and staff should not be stigmatized if they become affected and schools should continue to be welcoming, respectful, inclusive, and supportive.

Make preparations for disrupted food supply chains and the potential of price increases for key commodities alongside reduced economic activity, and people's reduced purchasing power.

"The lessons from the 2014 Ebola outbreak are clear: while health needs are an urgent and primary concern, we cannot neglect livelihoods or food security aspects...when people's livelihoods are disrupted, that can spark tensions and social unrest".

Hacking may have a cascading effect, for example, a cyber-attack on a trucking company could impact food security. The disruption could affect weekly food deliveries to supermarkets. In turn, the loss of revenue would weaken the business sustainability of distributors and producers.

Risks include:

• Hackers crashing Zoom meetings, disrupting conversations of government officials who conduct remote discussions (USA)
• False emails from the US Department of Health and Human Services are targeting supplier companies. They request protective equipment described in an attachment infected with malware. (USA)
• A cyberattack on Italy's social security system (INPS) has revealed Personally Identifiable Information to applicants as they were attempting to claim benefits (Italy)

Reference: Chief Resilience Officer, USA

Local government should continue moving their services to online delivery where possible to help those who are working from home, by strengthening digital infrastructure, network coverage in their areas and should consider developing cyber security campaigns. Out city "is trying to design a new digital routine, shaping work, events, meetings and initiatives on new online formats" for foreseeable future.

Reference: Chief Resilience Officer, Italy; and the American Red Cross, USA

Local government should identify where to source, pre-position and warehouse resources for disasters that may happen during the response and recovery to Covid-19. This will seek to mitigate the cascading impacts of simultaneous events e.g. PPE and other resources needed if homes flood and people are to be evacuated from their homes and temporarily housed.

Reference: American Red Cross

Local government should coordinate procurement between government and voluntary sector to anticipate the long-term provision of services i.e. foodbanks (in US Feeding America had their orders cancelled by suppliers as government bought stocks).

Reference: Feeding America, USA