Objective: This article investigates how a Chinese local government responded to the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, and the lessons can be valuable for the ongoing response efforts worldwide. Methods: This case study used primarily participant observations and interviews with stakeholders. Results: We find that nonpharmaceutical interventions, especially the physical distancing measures, are the primary tools used to contain the spread of the virus, and these actions keep changing to adapt to the situation of the local cases and the directions from the central government. Medical countermeasures, maintenance of essential public services, and effective public communications tactics are important allies of the strict physical distancing measures, which can enforce the public’s compliance. Conclusions: Local governments are the frontlines of emergency response. Both regulated policies (eg, physical distancing) and supportive services (eg, medical and essential living support) are necessary to the success of public health emergency response.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, China, physical distancing, emergency response, local government, 【초록키워드】 coronavirus disease, Nonpharmaceutical interventions, Local, virus, Spread, outbreak, Compliance, public health emergency, Support, Government, observation, physical distancing measures, Chinese, effort, effective, regulated, 【제목키워드】 being, Level,