[Skip to Content]
Outline
Claim CME
PDF
Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Managing COVID-19 in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Educational Objective
Review the response to COVID-19 and the association of mortality with health care resources
1 Credit CME
JAMA
April 28, 2020
Viewpoint
Joost Hopman, MD, PhD, DTMH1,2;
Benedetta Allegranzi, MD, DTMH3,4;
Shaheen Mehtar, MBBS, MD (Lon)5
Author Affiliations
  • 1Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
  • 2Médecins Sans Frontières, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
  • 3Infection Prevention and Control Technical and Clinical Hub, Department of Integrated Health Services, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
  • 4Institute of Global Health, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
  • 5Infection Control Africa Network, Cape Town, South Africa
Read article on JAMA Network

MOC/CME Information

editorial comment icon
Editorial
Comment
 related articles icon
Related
Articles
 author interview icon
Interviews
 multimedia icon
Multimedia
Read Article Claim CME

The public health response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in China has illustrated that it is possible to contain COVID-19 if governments focus on tried and tested public health outbreak responses.1,2 Isolation, quarantine, social distancing, and community containment measures were rapidly implemented. In China, patients with COVID-19 were immediately isolated in designated existing hospitals, and new hospitals were rapidly built to manage the increasing numbers of cases in the most affected areas. Home quarantine for contacts was initiated and large gatherings were canceled. Additionally, community containment for approximately 40 million to 60 million residents was instituted. A significant positive association between the incidence of COVID-19 cases and mortality was apparent in the Chinese response.3 That is, the rapid escalation in the number of infections in China had resulted in insufficient health care resources, followed by an increase in mortality.

Sign in to take quiz and track your certificates

Buy This Activity

JN Learning™ is the home for CME and MOC from the JAMA Network. Search by specialty or US state and earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ from articles, audio, Clinical Challenges and more. Learn more about CME/MOC

Related Articles

  1. Preparing for the Most Critically Ill Patients With COVID-19: The Potential Role of ECMO
    1.00 CME

  2. COVID-19 in Singapore—Experience and Critical Issues That Require Attention and Action
    1.00 CME

  3. Presumed Asymptomatic Carrier Transmission of COVID-19
    1.00 CME

  4. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak in China—Summary of a China CDC Report
    1.00 CME

  5. RT-PCR Test Results in Patients Recovered From COVID-19
    1.00 CME

  6. COVID-19—New Insights on a Rapidly Changing Epidemic
    1.00 CME

  7. Response to COVID-19 in Taiwan: Big Data Analytics, New Technology, and Proactive Testing
    1.00 CME

  8. Priorities for the US Health Community Responding to COVID-19
    1.00 CME

  9. Care for Critically Ill Patients With COVID-19
    1.00 CME

  10. Supporting the Health Care Workforce During the COVID-19 Global Epidemic
    1.00 CME

  11. From Containment to Mitigation of COVID-19 in the US
    1.00 CME

  12. Critical Care and the COVID-19 Outbreak in Italy: Early Experience and Forecast
    1.00 CME

  13. Editorial Concern—Possible Reporting of the Same Patients With COVID-19 in Different Reports

  14. The Differential Outcomes of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Low- and Middle-Income Countries vs High-Income Countries
    1.00 CME

  15. COVID-19 Response in Lebanon—Experiences and Challenges in a Low-Resource Setting
    1.00 CME

See More

CME Disclosure Statement: Unless noted, all individuals in control of content reported no relevant financial relationships. If applicable, all relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.

See More About

Global Health Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Article Information

Corresponding Author: Joost Hopman, MD, PhD, DTMH, Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 10, Postbus 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, the Netherlands (joost.hopman@radboudumc.nl).

Published Online: March 16, 2020. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.4169

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed herein reflect the collective views of the coauthors and do not necessarily represent the official position of Radboud University Medical Center, Médecins Sans Frontières, Infection Control Africa Network, or the World Health Organization. The World Health Organization takes no responsibility for the information provided or the views expressed in this article.

References
1.
Wu  Z , McGoogan  JM .  Characteristics of and important lessons from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in China: summary of a report of 72 314 cases from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.   JAMA. Published online February 24, 2020. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.2648PubMedGoogle Scholar
2.
Report of the WHO-China Joint Mission on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). World Health Organization; 2020. https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/who-china-joint-mission-on-covid-19-final-report.pdf
3.
Ji  Y , Ma  Z , Peppelenbosch  MP , Pan  Q .  Potential association between COVID-19 mortality and health-care resource availability.   Lancet Glob Health. Published online February 25, 2020. doi:10.1016/S2214-109X(20)30068-1PubMedGoogle Scholar
4.
Gates  B .  Responding to Covid-19: a once-in-a-century pandemic?   N Engl J Med. Published online February 20, 2020. doi:10.1056/NEJMp2003762PubMedGoogle Scholar
5.
Nkengasong  JN , Mankoula  W .  Looming threat of COVID-19 infection in Africa: act collectively, and fast.   Lancet. Published online February 27, 2020. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30464-5PubMedGoogle Scholar
6.
Xie  J , Tong  Z , Guan  X , Du  B , Qiu  H , Slutsky  AS .  Critical care crisis and some recommendations during the COVID-19 epidemic in China.   Intensive Care Med. Published online March 2, 2020. doi:10.1007/s00134-020-05979-7PubMedGoogle Scholar
7.
Touray  S , Sanyang  B , Zandrow  G ,  et al.  An assessment of critical care capacity in the Gambia.   J Crit Care. 2018;47:245-253. doi:10.1016/j.jcrc.2018.07.022PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
8.
Minimum requirements for infection prevention and control (IPC) programmes. World Health Organization website. Accessed March 12, 2020. https://www.who.int/infection-prevention/publications/core-components/en/
9.
Roberts  B , Patel  P , McKee  M .  Noncommunicable diseases and post-conflict countries.   Bull World Health Organ. 2012;90(1):2. doi:10.2471/BLT.11.098863PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
10.
Kayali  M , Moussally  K , Lakis  C ,  et al.  Treating Syrian refugees with diabetes and hypertension in Shatila refugee camp, Lebanon: Médecins Sans Frontières model of care and treatment outcomes.   Confl Health. 2019;13:12. doi:10.1186/s13031-019-0191-3PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
Close
Want full access to the AMA Ed Hub?
Become an AMA member now
After you sign up for AMA Membership, make sure you sign in or create a Physician account with the AMA in order to access all learning activities on the AMA Ed Hub
Buy this activity
Close
Want full access to the AMA Ed Hub?
Become an AMA member now
After you sign up for AMA Membership, make sure you sign in or create a Physician account with the AMA in order to access all learning activities on the AMA Ed Hub
Buy this activity
Close
With a personal account, you can:
  • Access free activities and track your credits
  • Personalize content alerts
  • Customize your interests
  • Fully personalize your learning experience
Education Center Collection Sign In Modal Right
Close

Name Your Search

Save Search
Privacy Policy|Terms of Use
With a personal account, you can:
  • Access free activities and track your credits
  • Personalize content alerts
  • Customize your interests
  • Fully personalize your learning experience
Close
Close

Lookup An Activity

or

My Saved Searches

You currently have no searches saved.

Close

My Saved Courses

You currently have no courses saved.

Close
Our website uses cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing to use our site, or clicking "Continue," you are agreeing to our Cookie Policy | Continue