Will COVID-19 generate global preparedness?
Kathryn H Jacobsen
Published:March 18, 2020DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30559-6
In The Lancet, Nirmal Kandel and colleagues1 report their analysis using an operational readiness index to summarise countries' national performance across 18 indicators of preparedness to prevent, detect, and respond to an outbreak of a novel infectious disease. The authors' analysis shows that only 104 (57%) of 182 countries had the functional capacity to perform crucial activities at national and subnational levels. 32 (18%) countries had low readiness and would require external resources to control an emerging infectious disease event.