Table 1 Measures with their associated cost and effectiveness (adopted from [42])
Category | Measure | Effectiveness | Direct cost | Secondary effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Travel measures | Travel advice | Minimal | Small | Large |
Entry screening | Minimal | Large | Moderate | |
Border closure | Minimal unless rapid | Massive | Massive | |
Personal protective measures | Regular hand-washing | Self-evident | Moderate | None |
Respiratory hygiene | Self-evident | Small | Small | |
General mask-wearing | No evidence | Massive | Small | |
Mask-wearing in healthcare settings | Unknown | Moderate | Small | |
Mask-wearing in other high-risk situations | Unknown | Moderate | Small | |
Mask-wearing by people with respiratory symptoms | Unknown | Moderate | Perverse effects | |
Voluntary isolation of cases not requiring hospitalization | Self-evident | Moderate | Moderate | |
Voluntary quarantine of household contacts | Self-evident | Massive | Massive | |
Social distancing measures | Internal travel restrictions | Minor delaying effect | Major | Massive |
Educational measures | Reactive school and day care closures | Positive effects | Moderate | Massive |
Proactive school and day care closures | Positive effects | Moderate | Massive | |
Workplace and public place measures | Reactive workplace closures | No evidence | Massive | Major |
Home working | No evidence | Variable to moderate | Variable to moderate | |
Cancelling public gathering, events | Positive effects | Major | Major |