Study reveals new strategies to control coronavirus pandemic

LONDON: Strategies for the safe reopening of low and middle-income countries (LMICs) in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic must recognise that preserving people's health is as important as reviving the economy, say researchers, including one of Indian-origin.

In the study, the research team examined three community-based exit strategies, and recommended their scopes, limitations and the appropriate application in the LMICs.

The three approaches considered are sustained mitigation, zonal lockdowns and rolling lockdowns. "Successfully re-opening a country requires consideration of both the economic and social costs," said study lead author Rajiv Chowdhury from the University of Cambridge in the UK.

"Governments should approach these options with a mind-set that health and economy both are equally important to protect - reviving the economy should not take priority over preserving people's health," he added.

The study also revealed that strategies need to be based on the local epidemic growth rate at the time, social and economic costs, existing health systems capabilities and detailed plans to implement.

Sustained 'mitigation-only' approaches such as those adopted in the UK, Switzerland and other European countries, involve basic prevention measures such as mask-wearing, physical distancing and the isolation of positive cases after testing. (IANS)

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