COVID-19 Narratives
by Dr David Nabarro

On 21 February 2020, Dr David Nabarro, Co-Director of the Imperial College Institute of Global Health Innovation at the Imperial College London and Strategic Director of 4SD, was appointed as one of six Special Envoys to the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General on COVID-19. In this role, David provides strategic advice and high-level political advocacy and engagement in different parts of the world to help WHO coordinate the global response to the pandemic.

The following Narratives are being written by David and peers to share with those who want more information about the situation and to help raise the awareness and readiness of all actors.

Sign up to receive updates

COVID-19 Narratives
by Dr David Nabarro

On 21 February 2020, Dr David Nabarro, Co-Director of the Imperial College Institute of Global Health Innovation at the Imperial College London and Strategic Director of 4SD, was appointed as one of six Special Envoys to the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General on COVID-19. In this role, David provides strategic advice and high-level political advocacy and engagement in different parts of the world to help WHO coordinate the global response to the pandemic.

The following Narratives are being written by David and peers to share with those who want more information about the situation and to help raise the awareness and readiness of all actors.

Sign up to receive updates

biodiversity health nexus

Exploring the biodiversity-climate-health nexus

/
0 Comments
This narrative was written up by Mihika Acharya, Communications…

Mental Health, Climate Change and COVID-19

/
0 Comments
Based on a speech given by David Nabarro at a ‘Mental Health…

Communicating Science with Policymakers: From Stats to Stories

/
0 Comments
Based on a presentation given by David Nabarro at an Imperial…

What can the vaccine roll-out learn from test and trace?

/
0 Comments
What can the vaccine roll-out learn from test and trace? By John Atkinson and David Nabarro. Origina...

WORDS AND DEEDS

/
0 Comments
Holding the virus at bay requires following the well-established disciplines of disease outbreak con...

Better, smarter, local response systems are the only way to avoid further lockdowns

/
0 Comments
Holding the virus at bay requires following the well-established disciplines of disease outbreak con...

COVID in cold environments: risks in meat processing plants

/
0 Comments
COVID in cold environments: risks in meat processing plants 4SD Working Paper | 11th November 2020 D...

COVID19: Do what is needed to hold the virus at bay

/
0 Comments
Holding the virus at bay requires following the well-established disciplines of disease outbreak con...

Whole-place approach for a COVID-ready city

/
0 Comments
The first phase of the global COVID-19 pandemic required a national response. Around the world, nat...

5 Principles to Guide Adaptive Leadership

/
0 Comments
A middle path is needed…. Too many restrictions damage people’s livelihoods and provoke resentment....

Understanding COVID-19 in school settings

/
0 Comments
Educational continuity is essential to long term social cohesion and economic success. That is why i...

The Great Revealer: Emergence of the “COVID-Ready” World

/
0 Comments
The Great Revealer: Emergence of the “COVID-Ready” World: By Dr David Nabarro and John Atkinson.

Patterns of risk, disease and response

/
0 Comments
This abridged version of the COVID-19 Narratives By Dr David Nabarro will be featured in the British...

COVID-19 Narratives Abridged: In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are only as strong as the weakest of us

/
0 Comments
This abridged version of the COVID-19 Narratives By Dr David Nabarro will be featured in the British...

Assessing national performance in response to COVID-19

/
0 Comments
By Dale Fisher, Yik Ying Teo, David Nabarro This is an extract of a Lancet Comment article which was...

Three steps for leaders to tackle COVID and climate emergency

/
0 Comments
Dr David Nabarro is Special Envoy to the World Health Organisation on COVID-19 and Strategic Direct...

Dealing with covid-19 means looking beyond immediate crisis response

/
0 Comments
We anticipate that the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the resulting disease covid-19 will remain an ever-pres...

The state of the Pandemic: where the virus is, what impact it has, and how that can be tackled

/
0 Comments
The state of the Pandemic: where the virus is, what impact it has, and how that can be tackled By Dr...

THE LEARNING AND LEADERSHIP WE NEED TO OVERCOME COVID-19, WITH EQUITY

/
0 Comments
By Dr David Nabarro One hundred days ago on 2 March, 90 percent of the 88.9k reported cases of the n...

SPOTLIGHT ON ONE HEALTH BY JIMMY SMITH

/
0 Comments
ONE HEALTH: TAKING A HORIZONTAL APPROACH TO TACKLING PANDEMICS By Jimmy Smith, Director General, Int...

COMPLEXITY AND FRAGILITY: REALISING THE SDGS IN THE FACE OF COVID-19

/
0 Comments
In the face of uncertainty, complexity means fragility. Because uncertainty cannot be controlled, the only option we have is to manage complexity.

20 May 2020, A LETTER TO MY DARLING SON” BY DR DAVID LUU

/
0 Comments
20 May 2020: My Darling Son, When you were born, I never could have imagined that five years later we would be living such a historical and unprecedented crisis like COVID-19. As I watch you play alone in our living room, distanced from your friends and family, (other than your mother and I), I feel the need to write to you this letter so that, as you grow, you remember these seven universal laws that will help you live a happy, healthy and peaceful life.

19 May 2020, In the Face of the COVID-19 Pandemic, We Are Only as Strong as the Weakest of Us

/
0 Comments
A Narrative by Dr David Nabarro and Joe Colombano, originally published by the Inter Press Service News Agency. When the COVID-19 virus travelled from Wuhan, China halfway across the world through Europe, the Americas and beyond in the space of a few weeks, it gave us proof, if one was ever needed, of how tightly interconnected we all are. Not only are our globalized economies interdepended, but also we ourselves are one with the environment around us, and with one another…

18 May 2020, COVID-19 Narratives

/
0 Comments
Across the world, the nations that are getting ahead of the virus know that economies and societies can thrive if they implement comprehensive action to keep it at bay. Yet, not all the nations represented at the Assembly are implementing the COVID-19 containment policies that have been continuously advocated by the World Health Organization (WHO) since late January 2020.“ – Dr David Nabarro

13 May 2020, COVID-19 Narratives

/
0 Comments
These ten learning points come at a time when many complex decisions are being made by leaders at global, national and community level. Each decision hmust balance social and economic consequences whilst putting public health first.

For 7 weeks I have been through a roller coaster of ill health, extreme emotions, and utter exhaustion – 4SD

/
0 Comments
Paul Garner, professor of infectious diseases at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, discusses hi...

5 May 2020, COVID-19 Narratives – SPOTLIGHT ON SYSTEMS WITH PROFESSOR CORINNA HAWKES

/
0 Comments
I am really delighted to host this guest blog in our narratives from Professor Corinna Hawkes, Director of the Centre for Food Policy at City, University of London. In it, Corinna explores a theme that I find powerful: that health is an outcome of multiple systems and interacting processes. Leaders need to appreciate the value of seeing the global challenges that COVID-19 presents in terms of multiple interconnected systems, all inter-dependent. Seeing the world in this way is a critical element of our thinking at 4SD. I hope you get as much from Corinna’s blog as I did.” – Dr David Nabarro.

SPOTLIGHT: Business leadership for social and economic continuity in the new COVID reality

/
0 Comments
An opinion piece by Dr David Nabarro in his role of Special Envoy to the World Health Organization (WHO) on COVID-19 and Founder and Principal of 4SD, and Peter Bakker representing the global business leadership voice as WBCSD’s President and CEO.

28 April 2020, COVID-19 Narratives

/
0 Comments
“There is an enormous amount of learning underway but it may take months to resolve some of the unknowns about the pattern of spread and effectiveness of alternative suppression strategies. And we should not assume that the virus will go on behaving as it does now.” – Dr David Nabarro

21 April 2020, COVID-19 Narrative Twenty

/
0 Comments
Narrative Twenty stresses that now is the time to prepare for COVID-ready workplaces – workplaces will be ahead if they are already consider how to adapt and recognise issues like physical distancing and managing leave for those who feel ill.

20 April 2020, COVID-19 Narrative Nineteen

/
0 Comments
My emphasis in this message is for the need for all communities quickly to become alert and ready for COVID. This is because the virus is going to remain in our midst for the foreseeable future. I do not think it will disappear any time soon. – Dr David Nabarro

10 April 2020, COVID-19 Narrative Eighteen

/
0 Comments
Narrative Eighteen dives further into “COVID-readiness” by looking at key aspects of the economy including the need to protect the lowest-paid people, valuing and rewarding women especially for the roles they play in essential health care, food systems and social care and the deployment of bold measures to lessen the economic and social impact of the restrictions on activities and movement.

COVID-19 Narrative Seventeen

/
0 Comments
Narrative Seventeen poses seven potential questions to help understand the sequence needed to ease away from a lockdown. Decision-makers will be considering multiple factors when deciding how best to do this.

COVID-19 Narrative Sixteen

/
0 Comments
Narrative Sixteen considers the fundamental challenges of a new normal, the leadership required (that leaves no-one behind) and the need to establish a Pandemic Emergency Coordination Council now.

COVID-19 Narrative Fifteen

/
0 Comments
Narrative Fifteen delves into what reaching a COVID-19 ready state means and the challenges that are inherent in doing so.

COVID-19 Narrative Fourteen

/
0 Comments
Narrative Fourteen analyses the introduction of lockdowns in areas where transmission is occurring. A lockdown means restrictions on movement and association, with priority given to essential services like food and healthcare whilst dramatically reducing the nature and number of person-to-person interactions.

COVID-19 Narrative Thirteen

/
0 Comments
Narrative Thirteen details three important elements needed for a collective response – Public Health, Fiscal, and Community Resilience – and recognises the role of women’s leadership in the response.

COVID-19 Narrative Twelve

/
0 Comments
Narrative Twelve dives into the reality of struggles faced by local authorities in a small french village where decisions are made and evolve quickly, whilst citizens search for immediate reasons and answers.

COVID-19 Narrative Eleven

/
0 Comments
Narrative Eleven takes a step back from the emergency as a threat to our health and considers the economic shocks, impact on businesses, poverty and social consequences of the crisis. It concludes with a useful approach for policymakers to tackle such a complex problem.

COVID-19 Narrative Ten

/
0 Comments
Narrative Ten takes a sincere look at the position leaders’ are in – their decisions are changing by the day, not necessarily because they are making mistakes, but simply because the situation is rapidly evolving.

COVID-19 Narrative Nine

/
0 Comments
Narrative Nine builds on Narrative Three by detailing how big business, small business and the self-employed are affected, ways to contribute to the response, and most importantly, the need to act quickly and decisively.

Narrative Eight

/
0 Comments
It will take the world much longer to suppress this pandemic if nations continue to work independently and are inconsistent in their application of WHO guidance” – This narrative collates Dr David Nabarro’s thoughts as G20 leaders prepare for the “Extraordinary Leaders’ Summit” early this week.

COVID-19 Narrative Seven

/
0 Comments
As countries all around the world enter the most restrictive peacetime measures they may have experienced, people everywhere will experience a range of moods and emotions that will impact on their lives. The overall message for now is: ‘Be Fast, No Blame, No Regrets’.

Narrative six: solidarity responses

/
0 Comments
Narrative Six is a call for Solidarity responses to COVID-19 outbreaks. We must unleash local capacity, activate networks, coordinate efforts and use WHO guidance.

Narrative five: rapid, robust and resolute responses

/
0 Comments
Narrative Five highlights the urgent need for rapid coordinated effort with multiple actions simultaneously and continuous learning.

Narrative four: the power of people-centred systems leadership

/
0 Comments
Narrative Four focuses on the power of people-centred systems leadership to end the COVID-19 pandemic including the need for resolute action by all and systems leadership.

Narrative Three: Business is a Player, Not a Spectator

/
0 Comments
Narrative Three discusses the important role of business and the contribution that business leaders can make. All sectors – businesses, civil society and government – have vital roles to play in keeping life going despite the virus.

Narrative Two: Readiness Planning for the Integrated Management of Covid-19

/
0 Comments
Narrative Two details readiness planning and the key components of integrated management: engagement of people, organization of public health services, planning provision of clinical care, and preventing societal disruption.

Narrative One: Government Leadership with the Inclusive Involvement of Everyone

/
0 Comments
Narrative One provides insights into China’s effort, the importance of readiness, key public health functions and the urgency for systems leadership to be established so a massive synchronized multi-actor effort can be mobilised.
biodiversity health nexus

Exploring the biodiversity-climate-health nexus

/
0 Comments
This narrative was written up by Mihika Acharya, Communications…

Mental Health, Climate Change and COVID-19

/
0 Comments
Based on a speech given by David Nabarro at a ‘Mental Health…

Communicating Science with Policymakers: From Stats to Stories

/
0 Comments
Based on a presentation given by David Nabarro at an Imperial…

What can the vaccine roll-out learn from test and trace?

/
0 Comments
What can the vaccine roll-out learn from test and trace? By John Atkinson and David Nabarro. Origina...

WORDS AND DEEDS

/
0 Comments
Holding the virus at bay requires following the well-established disciplines of disease outbreak con...

Better, smarter, local response systems are the only way to avoid further lockdowns

/
0 Comments
Holding the virus at bay requires following the well-established disciplines of disease outbreak con...

COVID in cold environments: risks in meat processing plants

/
0 Comments
COVID in cold environments: risks in meat processing plants 4SD Working Paper | 11th November 2020 D...
biodiversity health nexus

Exploring the biodiversity-climate-health nexus

/
0 Comments
This narrative was written up by Mihika Acharya, Communications…

Mental Health, Climate Change and COVID-19

/
0 Comments
Based on a speech given by David Nabarro at a ‘Mental Health…

Communicating Science with Policymakers: From Stats to Stories

/
0 Comments
Based on a presentation given by David Nabarro at an Imperial…

What can the vaccine roll-out learn from test and trace?

/
0 Comments
What can the vaccine roll-out learn from test and trace? By John Atkinson and David Nabarro. Origina...

WORDS AND DEEDS

/
0 Comments
Holding the virus at bay requires following the well-established disciplines of disease outbreak con...

Copyright © 2020 4SD All rights reserved.
Coma Web Development