Research Description
In the absence of vaccines and antiviral medication or until a worldwide vaccine is distributed, nonpharmaceutical
interventions (NPIs), else known by precautionary measures, implemented in response to
emerging epidemic respiratory viruses are the only option available to delay and moderate the spread of the virus
in a population. Almost all NPI measures relate to mega urban policies in dealing with the movement and
gathering of population in urban areas and public establishments. These precautionary measures are known to
vary in scale of application, as some may be performed on the national scale while others are only practiced in
certain regions or cities. Therefore, this study is an attempt to assess the effectiveness of such measures according
to their level of practice, duration, and stringency score (degree of application), in curbing the aggressive spread
of covid-19, and thus formulate possible urban policies for the future planning of pandemic resilient cities. Since
Europe is known to be one of the hardly hit regions, this research targeted three of its worst infested countries,
Germany, Italy, and the UK. This study is structured to address the three main pandemic waves from the first
announcement of the pandemic attack in January 2020 to March 2021. This method is followed to identify the
most effective measures to counter a pandemic attack and determine their optimal scale of implementation.
Findings suggest that less strict measures and smaller implementation scales were more effective in stemming the
spread of COVID-19 compared to other measures that were economically and socially burdensome. Timing also
played a crucial role, as implementing stricter measures early on in a pandemic proved beneficial in reducing its
overall impact. Therefore, it is advisable to prioritize stringent interventions in the initial phases of a pandemic
and then transition to less strict and localized measures to support the resilience of urban societies in the face of
future outbreaks. In alignment with these recommendations, this research significantly advances the fields of
pandemic preparedness and urban policies. By revealing the dynamic nature of disease control strategies and the
need for adaptability, it provides a robust theoretical foundation for crafting more effective public health and
urban policies during future outbreaks.
