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. 2021 Mar 9;11(3):e046177.
doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046177.

Public health measures to reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in Canada during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review

Julie Polisena  1 , Maria Ospina  2 , Omolara Sanni  3 , Brittany Matenchuk  3 , Rachel Livergant  3 , Sana Amjad  3 , Igor Zoric  3 , Nisrine Haddad  4 , Andra Morrison  5 , Kumanan Wilson  4   6 , Isaac Bogoch  7 , Vivian A Welch  4   8
Affiliations

Public health measures to reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in Canada during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review

Julie Polisena et al. BMJ Open. .

Abstract

Objective: The main objectives of this study were to synthesise and compare pandemic preparedness strategies issued by the federal and provincial/territorial (P/T) governments in Canada and to assess whether COVID-19 public health (PH) measures were tailored towards priority populations, as defined by relevant social determinants of health.

Methods: This scoping review searched federal and P/T websites on daily COVID-19 pandemic preparedness strategies between 30 January and 30 April 2020. The PROGRESS-Plus equity-lens framework was used to define priority populations. All definitions, policies and guidelines of PH strategies implemented by the federal and P/T governments to reduce risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission were included. PH measures were classified using a modified Public Health Agency of Canada Framework for Canadian Pandemic Influenza Preparedness.

Results: A total of 722 COVID-19 PH measures were issued during the study period. Of these, home quarantine (voluntary) (n=13.0%; 94/722) and retail/commerce restrictions (10.9%; n=79/722) were the most common measures introduced. Many of the PH orders, including physical distancing, cancellation of mass gatherings, school closures or retail/commerce restrictions began to be introduced after 11 March 2020. Lifting of some of the PH orders in phases to reopen the economy began in April 2020 (6.5%; n=47/722). The majority (68%, n=491/722) of COVID-19 PH announcements were deemed mandatory, while 32% (n=231/722) were recommendations. Several PH measures (28.0%, n=202/722) targeted a variety of groups at risk of socially produced health inequalities, such as age, religion, occupation and migration status.

Conclusions: Most PH measures centred on limiting contact between people who were not from the same household. PH measures were evolutionary in nature, reflecting new evidence that emerged throughout the pandemic. Although ~30% of all implemented COVID-19 PH measures were tailored towards priority groups, there were still unintended consequences on these populations.

Keywords: COVID-19; health policy; infection control; public health.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Individual public health measures that scoped priority populations across jurisdictions: number of public health measures issued that target priority populations.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Priority populations target by COVID-19 public health measures in Canada: number of public health measures issued for each priority population identified.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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