Managing COVID-19 epidemics in low- to middle-income and crisis-affected settings: epidemiological and economic evaluation

The COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly escalating and poses a potentially catastrophic threat to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), as well as crisis-affected populations. To support evidence-based, real-time decision-making by countries, donors, humanitarian actors and other stakeholders, we propose a six-month multi-disciplinary project built around three workstreams: evaluation of the health, fiscal and macro-economic impact of response options; global analysis; and technical support for decision-makers and local researchers. Specific activities (and associated deliverables) include the following:improve global data collation and capacity for economic analysis around COVID-19evaluate the health and economic implications of COVID-19 response options using micro-economic modelsquantify the macro-economic consequences of COVID-19 response optionspredict the transmission and mortality of alternative shielding options for high-risk populationsprovide a regular series of global COVID-19 health impact, resource needs and cost estimatesadvise LMIC governments, donors and humanitarian actors on COVID-19 strategysupport technical guidance and coordination for humanitarian actorssupport LMIC economists to provide local evidence on COVID-19 responses.