Many governments implemented a variety of technologies, incentives, and practices to track infection, promote vaccination, and enforce restrictions. Such policies and tools were especially effective in slowing transmission and reducing the strain on healthcare facilities that have been stretched beyond their typical operating capacity. The enactment of public policy restrictions, including social distancing, travel restrictions, access to testing, and contact tracing initiatives decreased COVID-19 infection, morbidity, and mortality rates.

Even with the development and implementation of safe and effective vaccines, and continued efforts to prevent transmission among the public, COVID-19 has persisted in spreading globally, and new more virulent variants have evolved. These responses included the shutdown of major manufacturing plants, limitations on social gatherings, travel and transportation restrictions, enacting state of emergencies, and public health measures (e.g., social distancing, use of face coverings and hygienic practices, closures of non-essential businesses and schools, and vaccine mandates). COVID-19) has led to unprecedented global responses in the attempt to limit and slow propagation of the virus. The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 aka. In this chapter, we will discuss the impacts of COVID-19 on public policies and health measures, economics as it relates to supply chain disruptions, and the implementation of novel monitoring methods to survey the spread of COVID-19.

Changes in monitoring methods were also observed, where many agencies began to track viral shedding through municipal wastewater. Prompt enactment of government policies allowed for use of alcohol with higher impurities to offset heightened demand and increase commercial availability. Rapid increase in the use of hand sanitizers and surface disinfectants significantly affected the production capacity of high-quality ethanol (e.g., USP and FCC grade) resulting in regulatory changes in countries facing shortages. Disruptions from the global pandemic created major supply chain consequences due to stockpiling of essential goods (alcohol-based hand sanitizers and surface disinfectants), impacts on trade routes, and limitations on modes of transportation due to border closures.

Many changes in public policy and health measures were developed and implemented with the intention of slowing the spread of the novel virus.

Transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, referred to as COVID-19, has persisted beyond 2020 and led to a global pandemic with far reaching consequences.

Rapid Response by D.J. Jamison