Assessing the impact of coordinated COVID-19 exit strategies across Europe

• DOI: 10.1126/science.abc5096
• Publication Date: 2020-07-17T23:17:26Z
• Authors: N. W. Ruktanonchai; J. R. Floyd; S. Lai; C. W. Ruktanonchai; A. Sadilek; P. Rente-Lourenco; X. Ben; A. Carioli; J. Gwinn; J. E. Steele; O. Prosper; A. Schneider; A. Oplinger; P. Eastham; A. J. Tatem
• Keywords: 2019-20 coronavirus outbreak; Pandemic

Better relaxing lockdown together Even during a pandemic, all countries—even islands—are dependent in one way or another on their neighbors. Without coordinated relaxation of nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) among the most closely connected countries, it is difficult to envisage maintaining control infectious viruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Ruktanonchai et al. used mobility data from smartphones estimate movements between administrative units across Europe before and after implementation NPIs for disease 2019 (COVID-19). Modeling dynamics under alternative scenarios countries releasing NPIs, particular stay-at-home orders, showed that if do not coordinate when they relax lockdown, resurgence occurs sooner. Coordination on-off would significantly increase effectiveness at reducing transmission Europe. Science , this issue p. 1465