Current Policy Options/Interventions to respond to COVID-19 Pandemic
Executive Summary
On 5th April, 2020, the Novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) has already affected 208 countries and territories
around the world and 2 international conveyances since December 2019. It has already infected 1,225,047
people globally and 43 persons in Ethiopia since December 2019, and killed 66, 503 people globally and 2
persons in Ethiopia during the same period. Currently, COVID-19 has no specific antiviral agent for the
treatment of the infection and there is no vaccine to prevent. As a result, implementation of public health
prevention and control measures that aim slowing down and stopping of transmission is crucial. Detecting and
testing suspected cases and tracking contacts with suspected and/or confirmed cases, individual social
distancing that focuses on isolation of case, quarantine of contacts, and stay-at home; social distancing
affecting multiple persons such as closure of educational institutions and workplaces, measures for special
populations, mass gathering cancellations, and mandatory quarantine of a building or residential area; and
environmental disinfection and use of personal protective equipment are currently available policy options to
fight the disease. Considerations of local context in response to COVID-19 measures are crucial for slowing
down and controlling the pandemic in order to minimize the negative social and economic consequences of the
prevention and control measures.
