Border Controls, Restricted Entry, and Quarantine Essential for Curbing COVID-19 and Future Pandemics

Comprehensive case-finding, repeated testing and apps for contact tracing and self-isolation are also essential.

Border controls, restricted access and quarantine for inbound travelers are essential to not only stop COVID-19, but any future pandemic, on its trail, finds a review of the available published evidence on early infection control in the online journal BMJ Open.

Comprehensive case-finding, repeated testing to rule out false results, apps and the use of GPS data to enable contact tracing and self-isolation, as well as financial support are also important elements in any policy to prevent the spread of infection.

While various elements of a search, test, trace, isolation and support system (FTTIS) have long been core elements of public health, COVID-19 infection has some specific characteristics such as silent transmission, a strong age gradient in severity of the disease, plus other functions that are poorly understood, the researchers say.

In order to inform the future pandemic strategy and improve the design and implementation of current systems, the researchers systematically reviewed international studies, published in the English language, examining contact tracing, testing, self-isolation and quarantine on COVID-19 management. evaluated.

Some 118 studies, covering the periods May 2019 to May 2020, June 2020 and January 2021, are included in the review.

The results showed that the best strategies for a successful FTTIS to control COVID-19 (and other pandemics) at an early stage are:

Border controls, restricted access and quarantine of inbound travelers Testing those most at risk, such as health professionals and residents of care homes. Repurposing an existing laboratory network and creating new test sites to meet demand. Pooled testing can be used to improve testing efficiency; repeated testing to minimize false negative results Use of smartphone apps and GPS data to track contacts and monitor self-isolation compliance Timely and adequate information to reduce uncertainty and anxiety; financial support to enable people to comply with infection control regulations Seamless integration of all components; linked health service data at local, regional and national levels through real-time data exchange and dashboards Regular press conferences by the central outbreak control team to keep the public informed about the progress of the pandemic, policy changes and to correct misinformation Open and balanced discussions on public concerns, such as privacy, protection of personal data, and restrictions on personal freedoms for the common good. Short to medium term plans, with regular reviews to respond quickly to new challenges

“Our findings may inform policy in future pandemics,” the researchers conclude. And they “can inform countries that are considering implementing these measures.”

Reference: “Lessons from Countries Implementing Discovery, Testing, Tracing, Isolation, and Supporting Policies in the Rapid Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review” June 29, 2021, BMJ Open.
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047832