Abstract

A consistent lesson from the covid-19 pandemic is the importance of a functional test, trace, isolate, and support system. The ability of people to isolate is foundational to this multipronged strategy, as it breaks chains of transmission and reduces infection rates in a population. Even the most effective mass testing and intense contact tracing systems have only marginal value if people who test positive and their close contacts are unable or unwilling to self-isolate. Given the global rise in cases of covid-19 and emergence of new variants effective isolation remains critical to controlling the pandemic. We examined the approaches to supporting and monitoring isolation in countries with available data to help understand what works. Data sources included government reports and websites, peer reviewed articles, preprints, and news media reports.

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Cite as

Patel, J., Fernandes, G. & Sridhar, D. 2021, 'How can we improve self-isolation and quarantine for covid-19?', The BMJ, 372(8284), article no: n625. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n625

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Last updated: 16 June 2022
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