SCU’s Dr. Leah Grout Featured in BBC Article on Global COVID-19 Responses

Dr. Leah Grout, a Southern California University of Health Sciences Research Data Analyst and Associate Research Professor specializing in public health, was recently interviewed by the British Broadcasting Corporation for a news article “Five Years On: The Countries That Never Locked Down for COVID-19.”

In the article, Dr. Grout shared findings from the study, for which she was the lead author,  "Comparing COVID-19 Pandemic Health Responses in Two High-Income Island Nations: Iceland and New Zealand.”

The study, published in July 2023, compared Iceland and New Zealand’s responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. While both are island nations with strong health systems, they took very different approaches to managing COVID-19. Iceland avoided strict lockdowns and focused on testing and contact tracing, while New Zealand implemented strict lockdowns to eliminate community transmission. Despite divergent strategies, both countries effectively reduced excess mortality and could provide lessons for other high-income countries.

"They (Iceland) had more of a mitigation strategy," Dr. Grout said in the article.

"New Zealand had one of the lowest mortality rates globally with their approach," explained Dr. Grout. "Iceland also fared pretty well."

The study also showed that acting rapidly to suppress or eliminate the transmission of COVID-19 during the first phase of the pandemic was beneficial for both countries, allowing them time for the development and rollout of a vaccine.  There are several key lessons that countries can learn from the COVID-19 experience in Iceland and New Zealand, including:

1. Having a flexible pandemic plan that is adaptable to different pathogens, especially as future pandemics are likely.
   
2. Clarifying in advance how a response strategy will be chosen (e.g., elimination versus suppression versus mitigation) for different pandemic scenarios.
   
3. Selecting and applying outbreak control measures to align with local conditions and resources (including supporting marginalized communities).
   
4. Providing clear and consistent communication to the public.
   

Read the full BBC Article and Dr. Leah Grout’s interview: Five Years On: The Countries That Never Locked Down for COVID-19.

Visit the SCU Health Research website to learn more about current and completed research, faculty, and staff.