Table 1.
Major components of RCCE strategies for effective and sustainable early actions10.
| Category | Types of issues and challenges by category |
|---|---|
| Risk communication systems | Involvement of highest levels of government |
| Existence of RCCE plans prior to COVID-19 pandemic | |
| Procedures on timely release of information | |
| RCCE operational team | |
| Budgetary issues | |
| Internal and partner coordination | Identification of relevant partners |
| Communication capacity of partners | |
| Existence and use of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) | |
| Public communication | Spokespersons |
| Message template | |
| Identification of key media | |
| Identification of channels of communication | |
| Role of health professionals in RCCE | |
| Community engagement | Understanding of concerns, attitudes and beliefs of key audiences |
| Identification of target audiences and gathering of information about their knowledge and behaviours | |
| Engagement through social media, radio, and other appropriate means | |
| Identification of community influencers | |
| Special information needs for people who are disabled or illiterate | |
| Establishment of hotlines to respond to concerns | |
| Addressing uncertainty and perceptions and managing misinformation | System for responding to misinformation |
| System for gauging public perceptions and rumours and misinformation | |
| Preparation of guidance for health professionals, community leaders, local government staff, and other key groups on how to respond to misinformation | |
| Capacity building | Training activities in various areas of RCCE |
| System for assessing and responding to training needs |