As countries continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of ensuring that fair and equal access to healthcare for all is more urgent than ever. Policies that promote social capital building along all levels of society may offer an important avenue for improved healthcare delivery and health systems strengthening in the COVID-19 response. In reference to the established and emerging literature on social capital and health, we explore the role of social capital in the COVID-19 health policy response. We analyse current research with respect to mental health, public health policy compliance, and the provision of care for vulnerable populations, and highlight how considerations of bonding, bridging, and linking capital can contribute to health systems strengthening in the context of the COVID-19 response and recovery effort. This article argues that considerations of social capital – including virtual community building, fostering solidarity between high-risk and low-risk groups, and trust building between decision-makers, healthcare workers, and the public – offer a powerful frame of reference for understanding how response and recovery programs can be best implemented to effectively ensure the inclusive provision of COVID-19 health services.

中文翻译：

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社会资本与公共卫生：应对COVID-19大流行

随着各国继续对COVID-19大流行作出反应，确保所有人享有公平和平等的医疗保健的重要性比以往任何时候都更为紧迫。促进社会各阶层建设社会资本的政策可能为改善医疗服务提供和加强COVID-19应对措施的卫生系统提供重要途径。参考有关社会资本和健康的既有文献和新兴文献，我们探讨了社会资本在COVID-19卫生政策应对中的作用。我们分析了有关精神卫生，公共卫生政策合规以及为弱势人群提供护理方面的最新研究，并着重强调了在COVID-19的背景下，结合，桥接和联系资本的考虑如何有助于加强卫生系统响应和恢复工作。