Public health restrictions, directives, and measures in Arctic countries in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic

• Published in: International Journal of Circumpolar Health
• Main Authors: Malory Peterson, Gwen Healey Akearok, Katie Cueva, Josée G. Lavoie, Christina VL Larsen, Lára Jóhannsdóttir, David Cook, Lena Maria Nilsson, Arja Rautio, Ulla Timlin, Miguel San Sebastián, Elena Gladun, Elizabeth Rink, Ann Ragnhild Broderstadt, Inger Dagsvold, Susanna Siri, Charlotte Brandstrup Ottendahl, Ingelise Olesen, Larisa Zatseva, Rebecca Ipiaqruk Young, Ay’aqulluk Jim Chaliak, Emily Ophus, Jon Petter A. Stoor
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2023
• Subjects: Epidemic; Inuit; first nations; health policy; Indigenous; infectious diseases; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic; Canada; Greenland; Norway; Circumpolar Health; First Nations; Iceland; International Journal of Circumpolar Health; inuit
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1080/22423982.2023.2271211; https://doaj.org/article/4fb320d492b64a83bd86ff5cfbce28ef

ABSTRACTBeginning January of 2020, COVID-19 cases detected in Arctic countries triggered government policy responses to stop transmission and limit caseloads beneath levels that would overwhelm existing healthcare systems. This review details the various restrictions, health mandates, and transmission mitigation strategies imposed by governments in eight Arctic countries (the United States, Canada, Greenland, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Iceland, and Russia) during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, through 31 January 2021s31 January 2021. We highlight formal protocols and informal initiatives adopted by local communities in each country, beyond what was mandated by regional or national governments. This review documents travel restrictions, communications, testing strategies, and use of health technology to track and monitor COVID-19 cases. We provide geographical and sociocultural background and draw on local media and communications to contextualise the impact of COVID-19 emergence and prevention measures in Indigenous communities in the Arctic. Countries saw varied case rates associated with local protocols, governance, and population. Still, almost all regions maintained low COVID-19 case rates until November of 2020. This review was produced as part of an international collaboration to identify community-driven, evidence-based promising practices and recommendations to inform pan-Arctic collaboration and decision making in public health during global emergencies.