Multi-Level Distancing Is Best Against COVID-19: Study

[ad_1]

March 24, 2020 — A combination of quarantine, school closures, and work-from-home measures is the most effective way to prevent the spread of COVID-19, according to a new study in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

Cities and states across the U.S. are using each of those approaches, but they vary. By Wednesday morning, 17 states will be under “stay-at-home” orders, which address all three: The orders call for all nonessential businesses to shut down, all schools to close, and all residents to stay at home as much as possible. An additional seven states have restrictions that don’t require every element. Some states have few restrictions of any kind.

“We have a patchwork of responses as opposed to a national response,” says Carlos Del Rio, MD, a professor of infectious diseases at Emory University. “We really need a coordinated national response.”


Too Soon to Lift Restrictions?

Even without nationwide stay-at-home orders, as the number of COVID-19 cases here continues to grow, President Trump on Tuesday called for lifting restrictions by Easter, less than 3 weeks away.

“I gave it 2 weeks,” he said during a Fox News town hall. “We can socially distance ourselves and go to work.”

Public health experts say it’s not that simple.

“Easter is April 12th. If the President would like to do this, I suggest he calls for a national shelter at home until then,” says Del Rio. “That will give us 18 days to scale up testing and do the things that are needed to flatten the curve and prevent thousands of unnecessary deaths.”

Howard Forman, MD, a professor at Yale University School of Public Health, also advises against simply lifting restrictions. “We need to have far more widespread testing, to gain a better understanding of where regional hot spots are today and where they’ll be in one, two, three weeks,” he says. “Based on what we know today, it’s impossible to imagine that we could be easing up on restrictions anywhere on April 12, without putting millions of people at risk.”

This new study, the first to look at how well distancing works, also suggests lifting restrictions would be a mistake. Done by researchers at the National University of Singapore, the study created a virtual replica of Singapore’s population and applied an epidemic simulation nationwide.


Evidence That Distancing Works

Researchers tested three intervention scenarios: isolation of infected people with family quarantine; quarantine plus school closings; and quarantine plus workplace closures, with 50% of the workforce staying home. They also tested a combination of all three. They compared the results to a simulation with no intervention at all, and repeated the models using low, moderate, and high rates of transmission.

After 80 days, the simulation found that without intervention, Singapore could expect to have anywhere from 279,000 to well over 1,000,000 infections, depending on the transmission rate. Combining restrictions lowered that number by 99% at the lowest transmission rate, 93% at the moderate rate, and 78% at the highest rate. Quarantine plus workplace distancing was the next best option, followed by quarantine plus school closure. Quarantine alone was the least effective method.

The study authors note limits to their modeling. There are still unknowns about how the virus is transmitted and spread, they say. And how people connect with each other can vary in different populations.

At this point in the U.S., the effects of various levels of restrictions can’t be seen. “Any place that thinks they’ve flattened the curve is probably not testing enough,” says Forman. “We would expect to see some effect from the aggressive actions (in New York state, for instance) approximately 14-21 days after the policy took effect. This means we shouldn’t expect much for another week in most of the earliest-acting regions.”

Talk of easing restrictions is premature, says Del Rio. “We need to go into a national ‘shelter at home’ for 30 days. As I tell people, ‘Erase April from our calendars, and we will find the exit from this crisis.’”




Sources


The Lancet Infectious Diseases: “Interventions to mitigate early spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Singapore: a modelling study.”

CNN: “These states have implemented stay-at-home orders. Here’s what that means for you.”

Carlos Del Rio, MD, professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta.


The New York Times: “The Trump administration never considered a nationwide lockdown, Pence and Trump say.”

Howard P. Forman, MD, professor, Yale University School of Public Health.



© 2020 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.



[ad_2]

Source link

24 thoughts on “Multi-Level Distancing Is Best Against COVID-19: Study

  • November 25, 2023 at 1:26 am
    Permalink

    My husband and i have been really delighted when Edward managed to round up his researching because of the ideas he came across out of the blog. It is now and again perplexing to simply continually be offering helpful hints which a number of people have been making money from. We keep in mind we now have the website owner to be grateful to because of that. All the explanations you made, the straightforward website navigation, the relationships your site help to engender – it’s many spectacular, and it is facilitating our son in addition to us reason why that article is enjoyable, which is very serious. Thanks for the whole lot!

  • December 11, 2023 at 8:18 am
    Permalink

    I am writing to make you know what a exceptional encounter my girl encountered checking your webblog. She noticed plenty of details, including how it is like to possess an ideal coaching mood to make many more very easily fully understand specific advanced things. You really surpassed readers’ desires. Thanks for distributing these helpful, safe, explanatory and even easy tips on that topic to Lizeth.

  • December 27, 2023 at 4:57 pm
    Permalink

    Thank you for every one of your hard work on this site. My aunt really likes making time for internet research and it’s really simple to grasp why. Most people hear all relating to the lively ways you offer rewarding information via this web site and inspire participation from others about this matter so our own girl is actually understanding a whole lot. Take advantage of the rest of the new year. You have been conducting a fantastic job.

  • December 28, 2023 at 8:39 pm
    Permalink

    I’m just commenting to let you know of the brilliant encounter my child undergone checking yuor web blog. She even learned plenty of things, not to mention what it’s like to possess a wonderful teaching style to get a number of people just know precisely specific very confusing issues. You truly surpassed our own expected results. I appreciate you for displaying the good, dependable, edifying and even unique guidance on that topic to Tanya.

  • December 29, 2023 at 10:38 pm
    Permalink

    My spouse and i have been absolutely lucky that Ervin could conclude his studies through the entire precious recommendations he grabbed from your web site. It is now and again perplexing to simply always be giving away tips that some people have been selling. We really consider we need the blog owner to be grateful to for this. Most of the explanations you made, the straightforward blog navigation, the friendships you help to instill – it’s got many exceptional, and it is leading our son and our family consider that that content is interesting, and that’s really indispensable. Many thanks for all the pieces!

  • December 31, 2023 at 6:42 am
    Permalink

    I must get across my passion for your kind-heartedness supporting people who really want help on this field. Your special dedication to getting the message throughout appears to be astonishingly useful and has surely empowered many people much like me to attain their ambitions. Your entire important useful information means so much a person like me and a whole lot more to my office colleagues. Best wishes; from all of us.

  • January 2, 2024 at 7:24 am
    Permalink

    Thanks so much for providing individuals with such a superb possiblity to read in detail from this website. It is always so sweet and also stuffed with amusement for me personally and my office peers to visit the blog not less than three times per week to read through the newest guidance you will have. And definitely, I’m actually amazed with your unbelievable tricks you serve. Selected two ideas in this post are particularly the best we’ve ever had.

  • January 3, 2024 at 5:43 pm
    Permalink

    I would like to show my appreciation to you for bailing me out of such a issue. Because of checking throughout the the web and meeting recommendations that were not powerful, I assumed my entire life was done. Living without the presence of solutions to the issues you’ve fixed all through your entire guide is a crucial case, and those which may have badly affected my entire career if I had not noticed your blog post. Your personal talents and kindness in playing with almost everything was very helpful. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I hadn’t encountered such a point like this. It’s possible to now look forward to my future. Thanks so much for this specialized and sensible guide. I will not be reluctant to endorse your web sites to any individual who needs assistance about this situation.

  • January 4, 2024 at 11:31 pm
    Permalink

    I definitely wanted to compose a brief remark to be able to thank you for all the magnificent tips and hints you are showing at this site. My considerable internet investigation has at the end been honored with good quality tips to write about with my partners. I ‘d tell you that we site visitors actually are rather blessed to live in a decent website with so many special professionals with good points. I feel really happy to have come across your webpages and look forward to so many more excellent minutes reading here. Thank you again for a lot of things.

  • January 6, 2024 at 6:03 am
    Permalink

    I am commenting to let you understand of the incredible encounter my wife’s girl obtained using your web page. She picked up such a lot of things, which include how it is like to possess a wonderful giving character to let the mediocre ones without difficulty fully grasp several advanced issues. You really surpassed visitors’ desires. Many thanks for giving these informative, trustworthy, educational and as well as cool tips about the topic to Tanya.

  • January 7, 2024 at 1:38 pm
    Permalink

    I would like to express appreciation to this writer just for bailing me out of this issue. After surfing through the world wide web and coming across things that were not helpful, I thought my life was well over. Existing without the presence of solutions to the difficulties you’ve fixed as a result of the site is a critical case, as well as those that could have in a negative way damaged my entire career if I had not discovered the website. Your good know-how and kindness in taking care of almost everything was excellent. I’m not sure what I would’ve done if I had not come across such a thing like this. I can now look forward to my future. Thanks for your time very much for this professional and result oriented guide. I won’t think twice to endorse the website to anybody who would like tips on this subject matter.

  • January 8, 2024 at 10:02 pm
    Permalink

    I’m also commenting to let you know of the fabulous experience my daughter enjoyed checking your web site. She realized so many things, not to mention how it is like to have an awesome giving nature to get many others very easily fully grasp selected problematic things. You truly surpassed her expected results. Thanks for churning out the necessary, trusted, educational not to mention fun tips about that topic to Evelyn.

  • January 10, 2024 at 1:28 am
    Permalink

    I and also my guys appeared to be taking note of the excellent information on your web page then instantly came up with an awful feeling I never expressed respect to the website owner for them. Those men came as a consequence thrilled to learn all of them and now have sincerely been taking pleasure in these things. I appreciate you for turning out to be simply helpful and then for considering this sort of incredible resources millions of individuals are really eager to learn about. Our own honest regret for not expressing gratitude to sooner.

  • January 11, 2024 at 8:16 am
    Permalink

    I must express my appreciation to this writer just for bailing me out of such a issue. Just after browsing throughout the search engines and obtaining techniques that were not helpful, I assumed my life was gone. Existing devoid of the answers to the problems you have solved by means of your write-up is a serious case, and the kind which might have negatively damaged my career if I hadn’t come across the website. The talents and kindness in maneuvering all things was useful. I’m not sure what I would have done if I had not discovered such a subject like this. I can at this time look forward to my future. Thanks a lot so much for this professional and effective guide. I won’t be reluctant to recommend your site to anybody who would like direction about this topic.

  • January 12, 2024 at 2:28 pm
    Permalink

    I intended to draft you one bit of note so as to give many thanks again on your incredible ideas you’ve contributed on this website. This has been certainly particularly generous of you to provide easily just what many of us might have marketed as an e-book in order to make some dough for their own end, particularly now that you might have done it if you ever desired. These good tips additionally acted as the great way to comprehend the rest have a similar desire like my own to understand lots more pertaining to this matter. I’m certain there are millions of more pleasant opportunities in the future for many who discover your site.

  • January 13, 2024 at 8:33 pm
    Permalink

    I have to show thanks to this writer just for rescuing me from this particular matter. Right after checking throughout the world-wide-web and finding tricks which were not beneficial, I was thinking my life was gone. Living devoid of the strategies to the problems you have fixed as a result of your good guideline is a crucial case, and those that might have badly affected my entire career if I hadn’t encountered the blog. The knowledge and kindness in controlling all the details was crucial. I’m not sure what I would’ve done if I had not come across such a step like this. I’m able to at this point look ahead to my future. Thanks for your time very much for the high quality and result oriented help. I will not be reluctant to endorse your web sites to any person who wants and needs guidance on this area.

  • January 15, 2024 at 1:35 am
    Permalink

    I wish to get across my gratitude for your kindness giving support to those who should have help with this particular concept. Your special dedication to passing the solution all-around ended up being remarkably invaluable and have specifically allowed those much like me to arrive at their dreams. Your entire helpful recommendations entails so much to me and far more to my office colleagues. Regards; from each one of us.

  • January 17, 2024 at 3:52 am
    Permalink

    I intended to create you this tiny word to say thanks the moment again with the pleasing opinions you’ve shared at this time. It has been really generous with you to present openly what a lot of people could possibly have distributed for an e-book to get some bucks for themselves, specifically since you could possibly have tried it if you ever wanted. The basics in addition acted like a fantastic way to fully grasp most people have the same dreams just like my own to learn much more in regard to this matter. I think there are a lot more pleasant opportunities up front for folks who look over your blog.

  • January 18, 2024 at 4:26 am
    Permalink

    I truly wanted to compose a note to express gratitude to you for the great hints you are posting at this site. My incredibly long internet lookup has now been compensated with professional facts to exchange with my great friends. I would point out that we readers actually are undeniably lucky to dwell in a notable site with very many awesome people with great principles. I feel quite privileged to have used your web site and look forward to tons of more excellent times reading here. Thank you once again for all the details.

  • January 18, 2024 at 9:56 am
    Permalink

    You need to participate in a contest for top-of-the-line blogs on the web. I will advocate this website!

  • January 19, 2024 at 6:31 am
    Permalink

    Thanks a lot for providing individuals with an extraordinarily remarkable chance to read from this website. It is always very ideal and also full of a lot of fun for me personally and my office friends to search the blog at minimum 3 times in 7 days to study the newest tips you have got. And of course, I’m also at all times fascinated with the very good knowledge you give. Certain 1 tips in this posting are essentially the most beneficial I have had.

  • January 20, 2024 at 7:25 am
    Permalink

    My wife and i have been quite excited when Peter could conclude his analysis from the ideas he obtained out of your web pages. It is now and again perplexing to simply always be releasing guidance that many many people might have been trying to sell. We acknowledge we’ve got you to appreciate for this. All of the illustrations you made, the easy blog navigation, the relationships you will give support to foster – it is mostly amazing, and it is letting our son in addition to our family believe that this theme is thrilling, and that is exceedingly pressing. Thank you for all!

  • January 22, 2024 at 1:10 pm
    Permalink

    My spouse and i were now ecstatic that Raymond could round up his research out of the precious recommendations he got from your site. It is now and again perplexing just to continually be giving out instructions which some people have been trying to sell. Therefore we keep in mind we have got the writer to give thanks to for this. Most of the illustrations you’ve made, the straightforward site navigation, the friendships you will assist to engender – it is most terrific, and it is assisting our son in addition to our family recognize that the matter is entertaining, and that’s extremely essential. Thank you for the whole lot!

  • January 23, 2024 at 3:48 pm
    Permalink

    Needed to compose you a very small note just to thank you again on the incredible information you’ve discussed on this website. This has been tremendously generous of people like you in giving extensively all some people could possibly have distributed as an e book to make some dough on their own, most importantly now that you might well have done it if you ever desired. The solutions likewise worked to become a good way to know that other individuals have similar interest like my personal own to figure out a lot more related to this issue. I think there are thousands of more pleasant sessions up front for individuals who find out your blog post.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.