Government Public Health Interventions: Crucial Steps in COVID-19 Pandemic in Iran

In the face of the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, governments worldwide have taken on the immense responsibility of implementing public health interventions to curb the spread of the virus. These interventions, ranging from social distancing to widespread diagnostic testing and vaccination, have played a pivotal role in safeguarding public health and mitigating the impact of this unprecedented crisis.Government intervention in controlling the spread of COVID-19 has been critical. In this respect, governments have showed their commitment to protecting citizens, promoting community well-being, and minimizing the strain on healthcare systems through implementing various measures. These interventions not only have saved many lives but also provided a sense of security and stability during the uncertain pandemic times, considering the unprecedented and invasive waves of infodemics and conspiracies. Various policies and approaches to fight the virus have been adopted in different countries based on cultural, social, economic, and health system conditions. (1,2) The most common and important government actions include public awareness campaigns, (3) prevention measures, (4) contact tracing, (5) diagnostic and treatment interventions, vaccination, and specialized care. In the context of Iran, despite the extensive and severe global sanctions imposed on the country, multifaceted interventions were carried out in the framework of Iran's primary healthcare system within a very short period after the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The documentation and dissemination of these interventions can serve as valuable lessons for the present and future health systems. Some of these interventions included educating the community, promoting social distancing, establishing verbal screening structures, contact tracing, identifying and breaking the chain of disease transmission, engaging the public and community in disease control efforts, establishing specialized COVID-19 diagnostic laboratories, expanding nationwide diagnostic testing, setting up designated COVID-19 centers to accept referrals from public and private sectors at the primary level, developing and reviewing diagnostic and treatment protocols for COVID-19, establishing quarantine centers, and implementing general vaccination programs through prioritizing vulnerable and at-risk groups. Despite the remarkable success of the interventions undertaken to combat COVID-19, numerous challenges persist. Public concerns, fueled by the prevalence of infodemics and various rumors, act as a flood that threatens to dismantle the structures, dams of prevention, and public health interventions, eroding trust in healthcare authorities. Moreover, the emergence of different and novel virus strains further exacerbates people's anxieties, demanding increased efforts within the healthcare system. Therefore, it is necessary to enhance communication strategies to ensure public understanding and compliance with preventive measures. Considering the role of scientific research journals in promoting participatory decision-making and disseminating evidence-based information, these journals play a vital role in fostering trust between the public and the healthcare system.(6) Accordingly, the role of local scientific research journals in non-English language speaking countries is vital in the distribution of evidence-based data, clarification of national programs to battle the pandemic, as well as correcting misinformation and rumors among the general public. Considering the mentioned issues, the Depiction of Health journal, as a journal published in Persian language by the Health Services Management Research Center of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, decided to release a special issue in collaboration with the Deputy Minister of Health, Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHE), and the Director of Iran's Primary Healthcare Management Network. This special issue covers policies, executive and preventive measures related to COVID-19 in the primary healthcare system based on evidence, government documents, field studies, and performance data conducted in primary healthcare systems during the time frame of 2019-2021. All articles in this special issue have undergone a rigorous peer review process in accordance with the standards set by the journal under the supervision of the journal's editor-in-chief.