Public policy responses to the spread of COVID-19 as a potential factor determining health results: a comparative study of the Czech Republic, the Russian Federation, and the Slovak Republic
, and | Nov 27, 2020
About this article
Published Online: Nov 27, 2020
Page range: 60 - 70
Received: Aug 18, 2020
Accepted: Sep 26, 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/cejpp-2020-0008
Keywords
© 2020 Tatiana Chubarova et al., published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Fig. 1
Timing of public policy responses: Slovakia
| Activation of crisis management structures | February 27 | Crisis Crew activated. First meeting on March 6. |
| First border control measures | February 14 | Temperature measuring at border crossings, information campaign |
| Closure of schools—voluntary action in some regions plus universities | March 4 | |
| Ban on all mass activities | March 9 | |
| Emergency situation announced | March 11 | Lasted for 90 days |
| Full closure of schools ordered | March 12 | |
| Closure of borders | March 12 | |
| Compulsory quarantine | March 12 | |
| Sport and similar facilities closed | March 13 | |
| Most shops and services closed | March 16 | Food, groceries and selective urgent services kept in operation |
| Compulsory use of protective masks everywhere | March 25 | |
| State-organized quarantine for all arriving to the country | April 6 | |
| Lockdown | April 8–13 | Temporary lockdown during Easter holidays |
| Regional lockdown | April | Seven Roma settlements quarantined for two weeks and one for almost four weeks |
| Relaxing of measures starts | Late April | According to pre-announced schedule |
| Re-emergence of COVID-19 | July | Not critical yet, primarily imported cases |
Timing of public policy responses: Russia
| Federal | Operational headquarters established to combat COVID-19 | January 27 | Under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister |
| Federal | National Plan for the Prevention of Import and Spread of COVID-19 | January 31 | |
| Federal | First border control measures | January 28 | Emergency regime in two regions on Chinese border |
| Federal | Closure of borders with China | February 20 | |
| Federal | Border control with other countries | Early March | Restriction of air traffic with the EU |
| Federal | Closure of schools and universities, restrictions on cultural and sports activities | March 16–18 | Voluntary action in some regions |
| Federal | Closure of borders to foreigners and cancellation of flights from many high-risk countries | March 16–17 | Mandatory 14-day quarantine for people arriving in Russia |
| Moscow | Self-isolation (home quarantine) for people aged over 65 years and those with chronic illness | End of March (23rd) | Paid sick leave for those employed |
| Federal | Lockdown during Easter holidays | March 30–April 3, extended until end of April | Wages paid, some stores or similar open |
| Federal | Full closure of borders for both Russians and others | March 30 | |
| Federal/Moscow | Introduction of self-isolation (home-quarantine), except for defined reasons | March 30 | Moscow defined following reasons to leave the house: |
| Moscow | Closure of non-food shops and services | March 30 | |
| Moscow | Obligatory wearing of masks and gloves in public areas | April 12 | |
| Moscow | Electronic passes introduced to move around the city | April 15 | Two per week with certain exemptions |
| Federal | Recommendations to ease measures issued | May 9 | Framework plan, specific criteria, implementation by regions |
| Moscow | Easing of measures started | June 6 | Phased measures |
Anti-pandemic spread measures in all three countries
| Prohibition of mass activities | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Compulsory quarantine | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| State-organized quarantine | No | Partly | Yes |
| Closure of borders | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Closure of schools | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Compliance supporting measures
| Regular supply of public information about pandemic | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Own pandemic spread prognoses | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Use of protective masks by top politicians and bureaucrats in public spaces | Yes | Partly | Yes |
| Special COVID-19 telephone lines | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Involving NGOs and civil society | Partly | Partly | Partly |
Timing of public policy responses: Czechia
| Direct flights between China and Czechia suspended | February 9 | Indefinitely |
| National Security Council (BRS) met | February 25 | No restrictive measures adopted at that time. |
| Biathlon World Cup in Nové Město held without audience | March 2 | |
| Flight connections with South Korea, Northern Italy suspended | March 5 | |
| Ban on all mass activities with more than 100 persons | March 10 | Limit later reduced to 30 persons |
| School closures | March 11 | Except kindergartens |
| State of emergency declared | March 12 | Prolonged several times, lasted until May 17 |
| Mandatory home quarantine for returnees from abroad | March 12 | |
| Restaurant closures | March 13 | |
| Sport and similar facilities closed | March 13 | |
| Shop closures | March 14 | With exceptions (food, groceries…) |
| Central Emergency Board activated | March 15 | As a working committee of the National Security Council |
| Border closures | March 16 | |
| Restrictions on free movement | March 16 | Work, shopping, nature outings and similar allowed |
| Regional quarantine | March 16 | Litovel, Uničov, Červenka (14 days) |
| Compulsory use of protective masks everywhere | March 19 | |
| Relaxation of measures started | Late April | According to pre-announced schedule |
| Re-emergence of COVID-19 | Late June | Significant (June 27–29) daily increase of more than 200 cases. Local centers (Karviná) |