Fig. 1.

The pandemic exacerbates existing inequities, which can in turn exacerbate the pandemic, for example, low SES individuals need to work rather than remain in lockdown. Policy responses have the ability to reduce the peak of the pandemic, or, if poorly designed or implemented, increase it. They also have the potential to increase or reduce inequities. Mitigation strategies can be implemented at the review stage leading to a change in the policy design to prevent or reduce the risk of inequitable harms, or be implemented alongside the lockdown policies to counter or reduce the anticipated impacts on inequities. Both approaches may be taken; this may introduce a feedback loop that targets reductions in the pandemic itself, and health and societal inequities.