Public Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic

This publication aims to contribute to enhancing the evidence in public health based on the results of a set of recent epidemiological, clinical, hospital, and social research developed in the first wave of COVID-19 in Portugal. The development of research projects and the publication of their results could be an important step to help healthcare professionals, decision makers, and all stakeholders to understand the importance of sharing lessons learned on the current pandemic. This collection of papers highlights important issues to learn from: · the epidemiological characteristics of the spread of infection · the impacts on healthcare and hospitalization · the importance of screening of healthcare workers · the impacts of lockdown including its effects on domestic violence · the need to engage the public at a regular basis. With the present issue on “Public Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic” the authors aim to document some Portuguese experiences on the effects of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and of the COVID-19 pandemic that threatens human health and public safety. Based on the interest, robustness of the results, and scope of reflections aiming at decision making, this publication should be read by health professionals, decision makers, epidemiologists, social stakeholders, public health academics and researchers, health management, and all related areas of health and social sciences.