COVID-19 Pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is a pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in January 2020 and a pandemic in March 2020. As of 14 December 2020, more than 72.5 million cases had been confirmed worldwide, with more than 1.61 million deaths attributed to COVID. As of December 14, 2020, the United States had more than 16, 000,000 positive COVID-19 cases with more than 300,000 deaths; these numbers are continuously updated; please see the STAT COVID-19 Tracker for the most current statistics (see below for website). The pandemic has caused global social and economic disruption, including the largest global recession since the Great Depression. COVID-19 has led to the postponement or cancellation of events, widespread supply shortages exacerbated by panic buying, agricultural disruption, and food shortages, and decreased emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases. Educational institutions have been partially or fully closed. Misinformation has circulated through social media and mass media. There have been incidents of xenophobia and discrimination against Chinese people and against those perceived as being Chinese or as being from areas with high infection rates. The pandemic has affected the political systems of multiple countries, causing suspensions of legislative activities, isolations or deaths of multiple politicians, and rescheduling of elections due to fears of spreading the virus. Although they have broad support among epidemiologists, social distancing measures have been politically controversial in many countries. The pandemic has had many impacts on global health beyond those caused by COVID-19 disease. It has led to a reduction in hospital visits for other reasons. In several countries, there has been a marked reduction in the spread of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS, attributable to COVID-19 quarantines, social distancing measures, and recommendations to not engage in casual sex. Similarly, in some places, rates of transmission of influenza and other respiratory viruses significantly decreased during the pandemic. The pandemic has also negatively impacted mental health globally, including increased loneliness resulting from social distancing and depression and domestic violence from lockdowns. The pandemic has resulted in misinformation and conspiracy theories about the scale of the pandemic and the origin, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease. Journalists have been arrested for allegedly spreading false information about the pandemic. It has also been propagated by celebrities, politicians, and other prominent public figures. As of December 14, 2020, in the United States, (a) California, (b) Texas, (c) Florida, and (d) Illinois led the nation in positive COVID-19 cases and deaths. Your assignment: You are the CEO / COO of the Regional Hospital in one (choose one) of the above-mentioned states and in 1000-1200 words, please discuss the following about the COVID-19 response as it pertains to the selected state your hospital is located: -What went well with the response? -What were the significant challenges with the response? In which ways could the response have been improved? -During Week One, we discussed Fayol’s Five Functions of Management: (a) Planning, (b) organizing, (c) coordinating, (d) commanding, and (e) controlling. As the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at the Regional Hospital, how would you augment your healthcare facility’s pandemic preparedness and response plan? Discuss which ways you would utilize Fayol’s Fifth Function of Management, controlling into enhancing your facilities’ pandemic preparedness and response plan. Make certain that your assignment is in the APA 7th edition format with a cover page, separating your sections by the appropriate APA Level Headings. Also, make sure you include a reference page and at least five references.
