Evaluation of Ukrainian Response of Coronavirus Pandemic Regarding Political Leadership, Equipment Readiness, and Staff

Paige Wantlin*, Erik Herron, PhD.
Department of Political Science, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26505

Presentation Category: Human Engagement (Oral Presentation)

Student’s Major: Political Science & Economics

Due to the recent prevalence of the coronavirus pandemic, a need for a comprehensive understanding of the information surrounding the virus has also emerged. While much of the focus has been on countries with the largest outbreaks (e.g., the United States), understanding how governments around the world have responded to the pandemic is important. This study focuses on Ukraine, a large Eastern European country with a substantial coronavirus outbreak and seeks to gather a comprehensive expectation of the coronavirus response in the country. The study relies on a unique and highly detailed dataset, compiled by Ukraine’s government, on hospital-level infections and capacity, including information on staff, ventilators, and other PPE equipment. With this information, we hope to cross-examine infection rate with available equipment while also evaluating political leadership and response within Ukraine. What we expect to find is that more rural communities are more at risk from the spread of coronavirus in Ukraine from a lack of available staff and equipment while transmission rates are lower. Urban areas, on the other hand, are better equipped to handle cases of coronavirus while the transmission rate is higher. Additionally, we also expect conservative leadership to handle the pandemic situation similarly to conservative leadership in the United States of America with lower restrictions and a lesser need to call for emergency.

Funding: Minerva Research Initiative

Program/mechanism supporting research/creative efforts: WVU's Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP) & accompanying HONR 297-level course