AU - Alami, Ali TI - Editorial: COVID-19: Emergence, Spread, and Implication for Public Health PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE TA - JRH JN - JRH VO - 10 VI - 3 IP - 3 4099 - http://jrh.gmu.ac.ir/article-1-1876-en.html 4100 - http://jrh.gmu.ac.ir/article-1-1876-en.pdf SO - JRH 3 ABĀ  - During the 21st century, human beings have encountered three major diseases caused by newly discovered coronaviruses called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). COVID-19, declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization [1], emerged in Wuhan, China in the last days of 2019 and rapidly spread around the world. There are more than 4400000 cases of COVID-19 and 298000 deaths attributed to the disease until May 14, 2020. In Iran, nearly 113000 cases and more than 6700 deaths have been reported to this date [2]. Despite the similarities between the three diseases in terms of the causative agent, the modes of transmission, and the main symptoms, the impact of COVID-19 on public health is very different from SARS and MERS for several reasons. The rapid global spread of COVID-19, the high fatality rate, and the different nature of the virus in terms of persistence in the environment could be considered as the reasons for this difference. To control the disease, various precautions have recommended such as hand washing, social distancing, social isolation, use of personal protective equipment, school/university closure, working at home, cocooning the vulnerable groups such as the elderly, and travel ban [3]. But, these pieces of advice could also have some negative impacts on human life. The social, economic, and cultural consequences of these recommendations could also endanger human public health in the short and long term [4, 5]. Moreover, the main health implications due to implementation of the COVID-19 recommendation are psychological impacts such as psychological distress [6], anxiety [7, 8], depression [9], and insomnia [10] among people, students, and medical staff. As providing qualified care for health service recipients is important, it seems that evaluation and control of the psychological impact among health care professionals have a special priority. There may also be negative public health effects because of the persistence of COVID-19. Indeed, people may fear of potential transmission of the virus while visiting the hospitals, health centers, and health units, even when receiving the required services [11, 12]. Therefore, the necessary services are not received on time, and this could lead to complications in the public health of the community. One of the most important health care services is immunization services [13]. Lack of adequate attention to the immunization program of less than 24-month old children, especially in poor countries and the poor population of rich countries could lead to the loss of all positive vaccination achievements over the past decades. Inadequate attention to immunization can even lead to the return of epidemic-prone diseases such as measles, rubella, polio, diphtheria, and pertussis. WHO asserts that “if immunization services are compromised due to severe limitation of health-care resources, vaccines for these diseases may need to be prioritized” [14]. Although the sustenance of routine vaccination of the target groups would be vital to maintain public health, health services have an important responsibility to protect all health workers [14, 15]. So, while emphasizing the continuity of the immunization program, providing suitable workspace for immunization with the least risk of contamination to the vaccine recipients, as well as providing effective personal protective equipment for the vaccinators would be essential. Another important group that may be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic is the elderly [16]. Social isolation may protect the elderly from getting COVID-19, but there are serious public health concerns. Indeed, the risk of their cardiovascular, mental health, autoimmune, and neurocognitive problems may increase during cocooning [17]. They may also be deprived of receiving routine services due to isolation, especially those who do not have close family and or friends. To prevent these problems, the health system may need to run an active health care program through health centers or to launch and enhance a voluntary supporting service for the elderly [16]. In general, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected all aspects of human life, including public health. We do not know when the COVID-19 pandemic will end. So, proper intervention planning and adequate attention to medical staff as well as vulnerable groups in society, including children and the elderly, are needed to reduce the implications of the pandemic. In this regard, the role of international health agencies and the responsibility of governments as well as researchers to provide credible research evidence for informed decisions would be very vital and significant. CP - IRAN IN - LG - eng PB - JRH PG - 131 PT - Editorial YR - 2020