Table 1. Framework for policy trade-offs in the Covid-19 response (with examples).

Policy choices/ public goals	Health		Economic welfare	Social welfare
	Impact on Covid-19 related health	Impact on other diseases
Physical distancing #	Reduced infections in overall population	Increased mental health problems because of isolation; improved health through improved air pollution	Reduced household income and consumption through reduced tourism, export, foreign direct investment and inflationary pressure	Compromised civil liberties; unrest; food insecurity
School closure	Reduced infections in children; reduced infections in overall population	Increased mental health problems because of isolation Increased morbidity and mortality from delayed presentation and treatment delays	Reduced income if parents have to take time off work without compensation; loss of income for education sector workers if they are not compensated; increased demand for substitutes like online education	Increased exposure of children to violence and exploitation; poor nutrition if children rely on meals provided at schools; stress for teachers for creating and maintaining online learning; challenges measuring and validating learning.
Expanded health sector response	Reduced mortality and morbidity	Treatment delays	Increased health insurance premiums	Displacement of other public expenditure, such as on culture.

# Various physical distancing policies are possible, depending on duration and restrictions. Such policies have different impacts on public goals and could be listed as different policy choices here.