Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), when applied in packages that combine a number of measures with complementary effects, were unequivocally effective in reducing the spread of infections during the COVID-19 pandemic, a major Royal Society report has found. NPIs are measures that are not drugs or vaccines aimed at reducing transmission of an infectious disease.
Social distancing and"lockdowns"—These were the most effective category of NPIs. Stay-at-home orders, physical distancing, and restrictions on gathering size were repeatedly found to be associated with significant reduction in SARS-CoV-2 transmission, with more stringent measures having greater effects. In care home settings, measures like cohorting and visitor restrictions were associated with reduced transmission and reduced outbreaks.
International border control measures—Observational evidence from national case studies showed comprehensive border control policies could reduce, but not eliminate, the number of infected travelers entering the country. Based on the available evidence, quarantine at entry borders was found to have the highest levels of effectiveness.
For the future, the report recommends establishing international protocols for conducting RCTs and observational research on NPIs in advance of further pandemics. This would greatly improve the ability to evaluate the consequences of differences in implementation internationally and help to disaggregate their effects on different social groups and demographics.
Hannah Littlecott et al, Effectiveness of testing, contact tracing and isolation interventions among the general population on reducing transmission of SARS-CoV-2: a systematic review,.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Combining immunotherapy with KRAS inhibitor eliminates advanced KRAS-mutant pancreatic cancer in preclinical modelsResearchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have uncovered a functional role for KRAS mutations in pancreatic cancer and rapidly translated these findings into a novel therapeutic approach combining a KRAS G12D inhibitor with immune checkpoint inhibitors for early- and late-stage KRAS G12D-mutant pancreatic cancer. The combination therapy led to durable tumor elimination and significantly improved survival outcomes in preclinical models, leading to the launch of a Phase I clinical trial.
Read more »
Masks and social distancing did reduce Covid infections, Royal Society report showsExperts looked at how effective measures that did not involve drugs or vaccines were when applied in packages that combine a number of methods that complement each other
Read more »
Female military recruits given ‘ill-fitting’ uniforms, report findsOfsted inspectors found rotting infrastructure and a poorly fitting clothing at some armed forces sites.
Read more »
Female military recruits given ‘ill-fitting’ uniforms, report findsOfsted inspectors found rotting infrastructure and a poorly fitting clothing at some armed forces sites.
Read more »