The　COVID-19　pandemic　has　necessitated　a　robust　policy　response,　varying　across　different　regions　to　address　the　unique　challenges　of　the　virus’s　spread.　This　study　conducts　a　comparative　network　analysis　of　policy　texts　from　Hebei　and　Henan　provinces　using　Network　agenda-setting　theory　and　visualization　techniques.　We　identify　thematic　similarities　and　differences　in　the　pandemic　response　by　extracting　keywords　and　constructing　co-occurrence　matrices.　The　Quadratic　Assignment　Procedure　tests　the　correlation　between　the　provinces’　policy　emphases,　revealing　distinct　yet　statistically　significant　relationships　in　their　policy　approaches.　Visualization　through　Gephi　elucidates　the　complex　interplay　of　policy　terms,　enhancing　the　interpretability　of　regional　policy-making　strategies　during　public　health　crises.　Results　indicate　a　moderate　overlap　in　policy　keywords　between　Hebei　and　Henan,　with　a　correlation　coefficient　of　0.5825,　suggesting　similarities　in　their　policy　focus　despite　geographical　and　administrative　differences.　This　overlap　points　to　a　consensus　on　essential　intervention　areas　across　both　provinces.　Further　analysis　reveals　that　these　policies　reflect　each　region’s　unique　priorities　and　capabilities,　emphasizing　the　tailored　responses　to　the　pandemic.　The　distinctive　strategies　underline　each　province’s　flexibility　and　specificity　in　tackling　pandemic-related　challenges.　©　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　license　to　Springer　Nature　Singapore　Pte　Ltd.　2024.