Public health emergency operations center operations and coordination among Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Malaysia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Public Health Emergency Operations Centers (PHEOCs) are the critical units to lead communications, information sharing, and resource mobilisation during national and international health emergencies, and are key components for maintaining global health security. This assessment sought to examine the coordination mechanisms between national and sub-national PHEOCs in Thailand, Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, and Malaysia (TCLM countries) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Information was collected on PHEOC structures, functions, and cross-border communications in three stages: a literature review of national PHEOC and emergency preparedness capacities; questionnaire responses from stakeholders to describe PHEOC activity at the national level; and meetings with emergency response staff in five border provinces of Thailand to assess communications between sub-national PHEOCs across country borders.

Self-assessment of the Thai Department of Disease Control's communication for international response to COVID-19 in the early phase.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the Thailand Department of Disease Control's (DDC) early responses to COVID-19 in respect to communication with the international community and to identify the manner of Thailand's response during public health emergencies.

Methods: Documents and international response communication from 4-31 January 2020 were reviewed and dates of responses were collected for descriptive analysis. A questionnaire was submitted to the DDC officers responsible for international coordination.