and sufficient health staff and adequate support for operations and logistics. By early December 2020, the figures had reached 753,210 dead and more than 28 million infected. The international organization reiterated its assessments and recommendations to governments to ensure a coordinated and effective response. COVID-19 and social distancing measures continue to expose governments to new public management challenges. As indicated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), “the responsibility of responding to the pandemic depends, to a large extent, on the state, which as an institution is currently facing a crisis of legitimacy and trust. But the public is now expecting the state to provide health services, relief, protection, and even comfort at this time of uncertainty.” Cultivating a culture of integrity in the civil service in times of crisis 12