The key factors that have influenced the management of COVID-19 outbreak in Lebanon

Abstract

COVID-19 is an infectious respiratory illness caused by the newly discovered coronavirus, SARS-Cov-2. It was originally identified in Wuhan, China, and consequently reported to the World Health Organization, to be announced as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. In light of its rapid spread, policymakers around the world rushed to manage the escalating health impacts of COVID-19. Varying in the timing and quality of measures, some governments had more effective outcomes in combating the pandemic than others. This article discusses the key factors that play part in shaping the Lebanese experience with COVID-19 pandemic. This review paper uses literature review as an extensive research tool of data collection. Selected articles focus on the management strategies of COVID-19 pandemic in certain countries to define and compare the strengths and weaknesses among them. There are six key factors that appear to influence the effectiveness of the action plan adopted by the Lebanese government in effort of managing COVID-19 epidemic. These factors are; timeliness of measures, media, population age, economic situation, health system preparedness, and refugees. The timeliness of measures adopted by the Lebanese government, the role of media, and the young population age has helped in curbing COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences; however, the deteriorating socio-economic situation, the patchy health system, and the large number of refugees impose more pressure on the government and threaten the consistency of its response. The Lebanese government should balance between public health and socio-economic considerations in order to govern the efficiency of its response in containing COVID-19.