Precision Public Health Matters: An International Assessment of Communication, Preparedness, and Coordination for Successful COVID-19 Responses

[ ]lessons learned from previous pandemics helped catalyze COVID19 preparedness in several countries 2 Scientists in China identified and shared genetic sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 on January 10, allowing international jump starts in testing technology (South Korea) and vaccine development (e g , United States, United Kingdom) [ ]of the 2015 SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) epidemic, South Korea established the Infectious Disease Control Center, which later distributed COVID-19 testing guidelines before the first confirmed South Korean case 2 Responses in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea used technology- including mobile phone data, credit card records, and closed-circuit TV recordings-to help identify, isolate, and contact trace COVID-19-positive individuals 2 Despite encroachment on individual privacy and liberties, public recall of SARS and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) facilitated adherence to these procedures 2 Unlike the fragmented US health care system, universal health care access in all other developed nations facilitated support of pandemic responses [ ]strong central coordination is essential to COVID-19 mitigation and precision public health