5 Criteria for Easing Lockdowns
In a new study published in the journal The Lancet, researchers compare the strategies for easing lockdown restrictions in countries in Europe and the Asia Pacific and identify five key lessons.
The researchers analyzed the strategies of nine countries and regions: Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Germany, Norway, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The five key considerations they identified include knowledge of infection levels, community engagement, public health capacity, health system capacity, and border control measures. The researchers note that some countries were better at these measures than others.
For example, contact tracing was much more successful in countries like South Korea and Singapore. Wearing face masks was used more often in Asia than in Europe. And experiences with previous outbreaks like SARS meant several Asian countries also had more robust health care systems in place.
