Writing this comment on behalf of the Gender and COVID-19 Working Group, the authors argue that policies and public health efforts have not addressed the gendered impacts of disease outbreaks, and that the response to Covid-19 appears no different. They are not aware of any gender analysis of the outbreak by global health institutions or governments in affected countries or in preparedness phases. Recognising the extent to which disease outbreaks affect women and men differently is a fundamental step to understanding the primary and secondary effects of a health emergency on different individuals and communities, and for creating effective, equitable policies and interventions.

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