Strategic COVID-19 Pandemic Committee

How do you know when a lockdown strategy is needed?

COVID-19 Questions & Myths

Non-lockdown options, such as contact tracing and targeted limited restrictions, are possible if:
1) we have current information about community transmission patterns,
2) the number of new cases is low, and
3) the R value is less than 1.

Contact tracing can reduce further spread by requiring contacts of new infectious cases to quarantine, and population restrictions might focus on specific risk areas (e.g., restrictions on events or gathering places).

A partial or complete lockdown is needed if contract tracing becomes overwhelmed and transmission patterns are unknown, or there are too many new cases and transmission is increasing. Without contact tracing we cannot control the spread of the virus.

If we cannot isolate cases and quarantine contacts fast enough, transmission continues unless a partial or complete lockdown is used to restrict people’s movements and contacts overall. People deciding to reduce their own contacts to the minimum required, as many have, helps avoid the need for lockdown and allows them to protect themselves and their families.