Critical Releases in Homeland Security: December 16, 2020

From the Introduction: "In the spring of 2020, hospitals in New York City suffered an unprecedented surge of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. This surge was associated with extraordinary use of critical care resources and high case fatality ratios (the number deaths divided by the number of recognized cases). During this epidemic, there were many reports of hospitals being overwhelmed. There were also reports about how conventional standards of care were unable to be maintained, forcing hospitals and healthcare workers to adjust the way in which care was provided in order to do the most good for the greatest number. 'Standard of care' is a legal concept related to 'the level at which the average, prudent provider in a given community would practice. It is how similarly qualified practitioners would have managed the patient's care under the same or similar circumstances.' The term 'crisis standards of care' (CSC) refers to 'a substantial change in usual healthcare operations and the level of care it is possible to deliver, which is made necessary by a pervasive (eg, pandemic influenza) or catastrophic (eg, earthquake, hurricane) disaster.' [...] For over a decade, there has been considerable discussion within the healthcare preparedness professional community about CSC. [...] The purpose of this project was to convene a trusted space in which critical care physicians from hospitals across New York City could discuss their experiences with CSC implementation with each other and with national experts on CSC."

From the Website Description: "The December 2020 Special COVID [coronavirus disease] Issue of 'Homeland Security Affairs' features eleven essays which chronicle agency and jurisdictional responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and the lessons learned thus far. The essays focus on how agencies or jurisdictions changed their operations to deal more effectively with the pandemic, as well as how the conditions of the pandemic constrained normal agency operations."

From the Preface: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] global pandemic has produced a human and economic crisis unlike any in recent memory. The global economy is experiencing its deepest recession since World War II, disrupting economic activity, travel, supply chains, and more. Governments have responded with lockdown measures and stimulus plans, but the extent of these actions has been unequal across countries. Within countries, the most vulnerable populations have been disproportionately affected, both in regard to job loss and the spread of the virus. [...] In this collection of 12 essays, leading scholars affiliated with the Global Economy and Development program at Brookings present new ideas that are forward-looking, policy-focused, and that will guide policies and shape debates in a post-COVID-19 world. [...] While the uncertainty around the pandemic and its effect loom large and create a challenging policy environment, together, the ideas in these essays offer a way forward for decisionmakers to reimagine the global economy and build back better from COVID-19."