The possibility of an infectious disease emerging in one country to rapidly spread to another country increases with globalization. The global increase in infectious diseases requires international solidarity against these diseases. Although global epidemics cause an increase in mortality, they disrupt the social and political structure, negatively affect the economy, cause negative psychological effects and deeply shake the health system. Early detection of the outbreak and rapid initiation of intervention measures increase the ability to control the epidemic. Measures to be taken according to the nature of the epidemic within the scope of protection and control measures include cooperation with relevant sectors, removal of risk factors (prevention of the use of contaminated water resources and chlorination of water) patient isolation, intervention to contacts, vaccination of risky groups, training of healthcare personnel and public health education. Nowadays, COVID-19 infection is a worldwide epidemic, and there is currently no improved treatment method or vaccine, so measures and control strategies to reduce transmission are based on public health measures. Slow/delayed provision of information to the community, lack of knowledge and awareness of protection measures, lack of action to stop rumors, reduced trust in health officials, failure to implement appropriate infection prevention and control measures among healthcare professionals, and cultural differences constitute obstacles to combating COVID-19. In this article, the strategies to combat the epidemic and the control methods of the current epidemic of COVID-19, and the obstacles that affect the fight against outbreaks are mentioned.