Infectious diseases have been a part of human civilization for centuries. In the last century, for instance, the world has had to deal with the outbreak of three different apex respiratory illnesses. Presently, the entire world is on pause as each individual country grapples with the outbreak and effects of the new respiratory illness COVID-19. Zu et al. (2020) define COVID-19 as a respiratory illness caused by a new strain of the group coronavirus. COVID-19 is therefore spread through contact with the virus. Symptoms of the illness closely mimic those of acute pneumonia. In the United States, the healthcare system has been grappling with the disease for the last seven weeks. Some sources have however pointed to earlier contact, as early as February 2020 (Gates, 2020). As of April 10 th 2020, there were more than half a million confirmed cases of the disease, though testing is still running. The numbers have been growing by the day, and the US currently leads the global community in COVID-19 related deaths at more than 18,000. Efforts to combat the virus have been in place, and seem to get more stringent every few days. Governments world over, the US included, have had to play the biggest role in combating the disease. Such a role has been critical and encompasses the economic, social, and even political aspects of American life. Even with the difficult task, the core problem has to be the poor cooperation between the two tiers of government.
The Fight against Coronavirus in the USA
In the fight against COVID-19, the biggest challenge for the United States continues to be the poor extent of cooperation between the state governments and the federal government. This has affected the role that the government plays in the regulation of efforts to combat the disease within the US. While the state governments are tasked with running much of the affairs of the individual states, there are certain scenarios where the federal government comes in. The largest role that the federal government of the United States plays is the defense of the rights and freedoms of Americans (Gates, 2020). In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a unique threat to the rights and freedoms of Americans. Thus the two levels of government need to cooperate in the process of effectively carrying out their regulation function. Basically, regulation improper regulation by the government remains a big challenge in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Though the issue is a healthcare concern, the scale and magnitude of its occurrence are such that the government needs to actively regulate the economy and society. Any action short of effective regulation would not win the fight against Coronavirus in the US. The role falls on both levels of government and could be greatly helped by proper cooperation therebetween. For instance, the government has been keenly regulating the research into the treatment and prevention of COVID-19. Fang et al. (2020) note that governments need to collaborate with researchers to find innovative solutions for Coronavirus related challenges. Similarly, manpower has become difficult to source for either level without the help of the other (Zu et al., 2020: Fang et al., 2020). Consequently, government regulation is needed to help sort such issues put. In the recent past, there have also been conflicting messages from the two levels of the US government on how to deal with the disease. In this way, the role of regulation has been diminished because the antagonistic policies of both levels being largely impractical. Further, shortage of equipment and medical supplies has arisen due to the disruption of global supply chains (Fang et al., 2020: Gates, 2020: Zu et al., 2020). The government would play a key role in combating COVID-19 if the sourcing of such equipment were regulated. Finally, resources are severely limited thus hampering the efforts to combat COVID-19 (Chen and Huang, 2020: Gates, 2020). It is upon the government, using its regulatory powers to address such shortfall in resources. Overall, many concerns in the US, regarding efforts to combat COVID-19 could be addressed more effectively through regulation.
U. S Government Regulation in Combating COVID-19
As the custodian of all the public resources and power, the government has the responsibility to exercise such power to keep American lives safe. By properly discharging its regulation function, the government could achieve this end. Different modalities may be considered with regard to regulation.
Research & Development of COVID-19 Vaccines/ Treatment
As part of its mandate, the government of the US could use regulation as a tool for combating Coronavirus in the country. To fulfill such a role, the government could opt to be involved in the research and development of medical interventions for the novel disease. Fang et al. (2020) write that governments all over the world at the forefront of contributing to the development of a cure for COVID-19. The United States government, for instance, has been at the forefront of researching possible vaccines for the disease. At the moment, US government institutions such as the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) have been researching cures for COVID-19. Similar efforts are echoed by universities and other public institutions. Evidently, the government regulates research into the cures for the disease through among other things funding such research (Fang et al., 2020: Hua & Shaw, 2020). In this way, the government is largely regulating the manner in which research and development of a vaccine are conducted.
Regulation of Human Resource in the Medical Field
For one, in combating Coronavirus, the government would greatly aid the medical sector if it could source for more healthcare workers. Particularly, the US efforts to combat COVID-19 would be greatly boosted if more frontline healthcare workers were sourced and drafted. Chen and Huang (2020), note that healthcare workers have been the most important link in the government’s efforts to combat COVID-19. Their role mainly focuses on managing any reported cases of COVID-19 in the population, healthcare workers have been crucial in the fight against the pandemic. At the moment, the country is in dire need of more medical workers even as the COVID-19 pandemic worsens for the U.S. Through regulation, the government could be able to source for more manpower (Bayne et al., 2020: Tanne et al., 2020). For instance, the government could formulate regulations through which armed forces personnel could be used in the frontline against COVID-19. Just as much, through the development of regulatory policies, the government could also tap into the existing medical students and utilize them as reserve medical personnel (Bayne et al., 2020). Such would be helpful in equipping the US response with more human resources necessary for the COVID-19 alleviation efforts.
Still, on the regulation of healthcare workers, the government could take certain options on the management of human resources. For instance, it would be useful for the government to offer incentives to healthcare workers. As a result, the medical personnel would feel the public’s appreciation of their efforts in the fight against COVID-19. Chen and Huang (2020) indicate that recognition of efforts is a critical component in the management of healthcare service providers, particularly those in the frontline. Just as much, the government could also use its power of regulation in the fight against Coronavirus. By setting guidelines on how physicians ought to interact with their patients, the government would achieve this end. As such, the regulations would prescribe what medical services may be sought, most being curative and emergency care as opposed to non-emergency consultations (Bayne et al., 2020: Tanne et al., 2020: Chen and Huang, 2020). It is necessary for government regulations to limit the interactions of medical personnel with non-COVID-19 patients on one hand, and with COVID-19 patients on the other.
Regulation of the Flow of Information
Considering that COVID-19 is an entirely new disease, not much information about it exists. As such, there are bound to be a lot of falsehoods and half-truths about and around the issue (Van Bavel et al., 2020). For such reason, it is necessary for the United States government to take the lead in disseminating factual information about the pandemic. Hua and Shaw (2020) call on governments to centralize the source of their information and avenues through which citizens are reached. This is useful in preventing the emergence of falsehoods about the disease and causing panic in the population. Adalja et al. (2020) point out that sensational claims and exaggerations may complicate government efforts to curb the spread of the disease. In addition, falsehoods may lead to a breakdown of social order in the country further complicating efforts aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19. Evidently, there is a need for the government to keep the public aware of the spread of the virus (Hua & Shaw, 2020). It is also necessary that populations stay aware of the impact of COVID-19 on the population. Additionally, it is important that the population be aware of measures being undertaken to combat the pandemic (Van Bavel et al., 2020: Adalja et al., 2020). In essence, it is necessary for governments to exercise their power of regulation in order to help manage the spread of Coronavirus.
Mobilization of Resources
As of 10 th April, the United States government had injected billions into the economy to shield from the adverse effects of COVID-19. Such action is one of the ways through which regulation aids in the fight against the Coronavirus. The government has also been at the fore of mobilizing resources for use within the economy, and by the population. Part of the efforts of the government, through regulation, has been to avail resources in terms of support for vulnerable portions of society. Such measures could play a big role in containing the COVID-19 spread within America (Chen and Huang, 2020). Regulatory actions by either the state or the federal government, or a collaboration of both, have led to increases in allocation for welfare programs. Funds that would have been committed to other concerns have been re-routed into the efforts against COVID-19. Gates (2020) notes that government regulation could help in enhancing the success of the efforts geared towards combating Coronavirus. A large part of this is evident in the limitation of social interactions thereby containing the spread of COVID-19 within the US population. Thus government regulations have been critical in the fight against Coronavirus and will continue to remain so.
Recommendations
Though commendable actions, in terms of regulation, have been taken, much may still need to be done to combat the spread of COVID-19. To begin with, the federal government of the United States ought to seek collaboration with the state governments. Better collaboration between the two levels of government would make the regulations more effective. As a result, the response to the disease would be easier. Secondly, the government should also step up its effort in aid of the funding of research into the cure for COVID-19. The US government has immense resources at its disposal that could be utilized to find remedies for Coronavirus. In connection to this, the government should also draft adequate regulations to oversight the use of funds in researching COVID-19 cures. Such regulations should also focus on improving the extent of collaboration between government and private researchers into the cure for Coronavirus.
Regulations also extend to the management of human resources available for combating Coronavirus within the US. With its powers, the government of the United States should source for adequate medical personnel to aid in the COVID-19 fight. In this regard, the government should consider redeploying additional professionals to aid the existing frontline healthcare workers. Such personnel could be drawn from the disciplined forces, and even among senior students studying medical sciences in the colleges if need be. The government should also regulate the operations of medical practitioners, to ensure adequate personnel is available for combating COVID-19. Further on, the US government should regulate the flow of information on the new disease to limit the possibility of falsehoods emerging among the population. An action to such an end would be useful in preventing the meltdown of social order.
Conclusion
Since the beginning of March, the number of US COVID-19 cases has been on a steady rise. The result of this trend has been a strain on the economy and social fabric of the United States. The government, therefore, has been at the fore of efforts to combat the disease; with the main tool being regulation of social and economic activities. On the social front, government regulations have led to outcomes such as social distancing, and active avoidance of non-essential tasks outside the house. Economic regulations have come in the form of redistribution of resources towards COVID-19 eradication efforts, and sourcing for more manpower. Further regulations in the economic sphere have been the cushioning of the vulnerable segments of society. While these measures have yet to bear fruit, given the ever-increasing number of reported infections and deaths, more regulation would be useful. The government should thus step up the reallocation of resources from other votes towards boosting healthcare capacity. Through regulation, more healthcare professionals should be availed; equipment and supplies should also be availed.
References
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