Emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond: Qualitative content analysis

The Earth continues to suffer from the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak even now, particularly due to the absence of appropriate theoretical frameworks for related emergency responses. In this study, we provided a simplified model for the emergency response to the coronavirus infection. We employed a qualitative content analysis, using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 checklist and flow diagram. Specifically, we examined eight underlying factors (leaders’ inability, focus on economic recovery, controversies regarding the usage of face masks, unprecedented reliance on herd immunity, hasty research and development, late decision-making, coordination failure, and occurrence of natural hazards) and eight selected overarching factors (global leadership, national policies, individual strategies, culture, research and development, timing, communication, and contingency). Considering these factors, we proposed the “Earth as a comprehensive system” approach, under which elements of the pandemic response are comprehensively included to facilitate problem-solving, social support, strategic use, assistance from various professionals, and education. The operational mechanism of this approach clearly emphasizes unified efforts for responding to a pandemic by systematically including various interdependent components of the Earth.