Politicians, policy makers and public servants have never faced a situation like this. They immediately need policies that really work. Best practices can serve as an inspiration, a starting point and a proof of concept.
Public volunteer programme to support a country’s health structures
To meet the growing demands within a country’s health system, a volunteer programme for doctors, nurses, paramedics, psychologists, and students and retirees with a health or nursing background was set up.
A platform for businesses to collaborate against Covid-19
A platform connects businesses providing solutions for Covid-19 with those who need help.
Virtual town hall meetings
The Mayor of Oakland is holding virtual town hall meetings to answer questions and to inform residents about the Covid-19 situation.
Using behavioral insights to enforce policy compliance
To reinforce the adherence to government policies by making them more normal and more obvious, the “Nudge theory” can be applied.
A conference to start a global conversation about the implications of Covid-19
To identify practical next steps for local contexts, the OECD will facilitate an international conference on the potential implications of the coronavirus crisis.
Providing email support for concerned citizens
To offer support for those who have no symptoms but feel stressed about being Covid-19 positive, an online consultation form was created.
Video updates on Covid-19 measures for civil servants
To inform civil servants about the city’s measures and projects during the coronavirus pandemic, the city government created a YouTube channel for its employees.
A government’s initiative equips people with innovative solutions and services
To improve peoples’ lives during lockdown and quarantine, the Italian Ministry for Technological Innovation and Digitalisation launched an initiative offering citizens innovative solutions and services.
Virtual assistant providing reliable information
In Latvia, an easily integrable chatbot offers reliable information on Covid-19.
Free online state library
Access to digital library service is opened up online, to offer reading materials while closing the physical libraries.
Food boxes for people in need
A youth-led initiative collects donations to support the poorest households in Lebanon with food supplies.
Using AI to detect temperatures of people in high-density urban areas
Recent technological advances can be used to to liberate health professionals from risky tasks.