Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

May 15, 2020

Strong Social Distancing Measures In The United States Reduced The COVID-19 Growth Rate

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  • Researchers evaluated the impact of four government-imposed social distancing measures, including public school closures, bans on large social gatherings, closures of entertainment-related businesses, and shelter-in-place orders (SIPOs) on the spread of COVID-19 across US counties. They found that their combined adoption reduced the daily growth rate by 9.1% after 16-20 days of implementation.  
  • When considered separately, each measure was associated with a reduction in the daily growth rate, but school closures and social gathering bans did not have a significant effect, suggesting that these policies may displace rather than reduce social interactions. 

Courtemanche et al. (May 14, 2020). Strong Social Distancing Measures In The United States Reduced The COVID-19 Growth Rate. Health Affairs. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.00608