Virus testing will be key to lockdown exit strategies

Subject

COVID-19 lockdown 'exit strategies'.

Significance

As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) spreads through the world, there is increasing acceptance that nationwide lockdowns are currently the only options for many countries whose healthcare systems are set to be overwhelmed. Lockdowns will provide invaluable time for recovery, capacity-building and scientific progress, but they will also require the development of acceptable ‘exit strategies’.

Impacts

• Many countries’ escalation to lockdown has been too slow to prevent their healthcare systems from being overwhelmed.
• China’s daily cases fell twelve days after lockdown; this may take longer for countries whose restrictive measures are less stringent.
• Countries will closely study others that are already able to begin lifting their restrictions, such as China.