Development Standards and Assessment Criteria for COVID-19 Safety Village Based on COVID-Free Setting Measures

Abstract

This study aimed to develop standards and assessment criteria for COVID-19 safety village based on COVID-free setting measures. The study included 3 steps of activities: (1) developing the standards by reviewing the COVID free setting measures, situation of COVID-19 incidence and coverage of COVID-19 vaccine in villages of Tak Province, and then expert brainstorming, (2) validating the standards and assessment criteria by expert review, and (3) testing these assessment criteria in 18 villages of Tak Province. The standards for COVID-19 safety village had 3 levels and required adequate COVIDfree setting measures of workplaces/organizations in the village including health promoting hospitals, sub-district administrative organizations, at least one school, one religious place, one shop, and one gas station. The COVID-free setting measures comprised 3 components including COVID-free environment, personnel, and customer. Validation of these standards and assessment criteria by expert review found that they were very useful, appropriate, and accurate. The assessment criteria were preliminarily tested in 18 villages in Tak Province, of which 4 (22.2%) could be certified for COVID-19 safety village. It was recommended that the district health board chaired by the district officer could provide assistance in the operation and the achievement of COVID-19 safety village in the areas; and an online application could be convenient and efficient for the assessment.