Crisis headquarters in the crisis management of the COVID-19 pandemic in Serbia

Abstract

One of the important, but also insufficiently addressed issues in the C-19 crisis management is the crisis headquarters. Successful responses to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic largely depend on the management structure, and above all on the timely and rapid response of crisis staff in terms of adjustment and quick and quality decision-making. Crisis teams differ significantly in the management of mass health infections compared to normal times, but also when it comes to other types of crises (economic, financial, energy, moral, etc.). In pandemic management, crisis staff faces the problem of time, more than in other crises. On the other hand, the constant bombardment of information regarding the number of dead, infected, those on ventilators, etc. leads to stress of the members of the crisis staff and other medical teams. Crisis staff is facing dramatic changes that are happening even during one day, and they often have to take into account the medical and non-medical aspects of the pandemic.