National responses to the COVID-19 pandemic
National responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have been varied, and have included containment measures such as lockdowns, quarantines, and curfews. As of 23 April 2024, 775,293,616 cases of COVID-19 have been reported, resulting in 7,044,637 reported deaths.[1] The most affected countries in terms of confirmed cases are the United States, Brazil, India, Russia, South Africa, Peru, Mexico, Chile, the United Kingdom, and Iran.[2][3]
This article is about government responses to the outbreak. For information on the status of the outbreak by country, see COVID-19 pandemic by country and territory.Debate
The response to the pandemic has resulted in unprecedented expansion of government power. Advocates of small government worry that the state will be reluctant to give up that power once the crisis is over, as has often been the case historically.[774]