Reflections on Communicating COVID-19: An Interdisciplinary and Ongoing Dialogue

Abstract

Scholarly knowledge about the communication dimensions of the COVID-19 pandemic contributes to interdisciplinary lessons for future public health emergencies. This collection nurtures further thinking about the ‘messiness’ that comes with communication during an infectious disease outbreak such as COVID-19, and how we can embrace and learn from it. The chapter highlights the importance of communication preparedness and the urgency to make meaningful efforts to improve communication knowledge, especially during times when public health measures are highly reliant on communication, without which health messages remain unheard and unattended to. It further discusses the need for partnerships to address communication inequalities between health authorities and trusted community organisations; and the mobilisation of community-led organisations as key partners for the people most severely impacted by COVID-19. The chapter concludes by suggesting areas of future research to contribute to a nuanced understanding of the diverse pandemic experiences of specific sub-groups and populations with varying cultural and ethnic influences.