This series was created to improve the conversation and engagement between academic and policy communities. It also aims to draw attention to the most significant strategic questions facing Australia and the Asia-Pacific.

As the novel coronavirus sweeps around the world, public health systems and political leaders in every country are being put to the test. This paper provides a succinct look at how Australia and the United States are tackling the coronavirus pandemic, comparing and contrasting the approaches taken on some key issues.

Leading health and disability researchers are calling for urgent action from state and federal governments to develop a targeted response to COVID-19 for people with disability, their families and the disability service sector.

What are the lessons of overseas Covid-19 responses for Australian policymakers?

Australia could see higher proportional death rates from the novel coronavirus outbreak than in China, due to our relatively older population and the more severe symptoms of the virus in older people, according to this perspective by Professor Raina MacIntyre, Head of the Biosecurity Program at the Kirby Institute.