Social distancing methods to prevent transmission of COVID-19 (multiple reviews)
What is this? Social distancing is widely used to minimise transmission of COVID-19. Several reviews are summarised here, and their citations and links to their full text are available further down this summary.
What was found: At the time of the Chu rapid review (search done on 3 May 2020), the research showed that social distancing was associated with a large reduction in infection with coronaviruses at distances of at least 1 metre, and may be more effective at 2 metres. However, the Teasdale review (search done in February 2013) found that people were ambivalent about adopting personal distancing behaviours in some contexts, because of their perceived adverse impact and potential social stigma.
Jefferson et al found that there was insufficient evidence to support social distancing measures to prevent transmission of respiratory viruses at the time of their review (search done in October 2010).
The Fong review (search done in November 2018) found limited evidence that social distancing measures reduced transmission in influenza pandemics. These included isolating ill individuals, contact tracing, quarantining exposed individuals, school measures or closures, work measures or closures and crowd avoidance. The review highlighted potential impacts of social distancing, including personal and societal consequences, as well as resource implications for services.
What are the reviews:
Citation: Chu DK, Akl EA, Duda S, et al. Physical distancing, face masks, and eye protection to prevent person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet 2020; 395:1973-87.
In this rapid review, the authors searched for studies of the effects of physical distancing, face masks and eye protection on transmission of COVID-19, SARS and MERS in healthcare and non-healthcare situations. They did not restrict their searches by language of publication and searched up to 3 May 2020. They included 172 observational studies, including 44 comparative studies (total: 25,697 participants).
Citation: Fong MW, Gao H, Wong JY, et al. Nonpharmaceutical measures for pandemic influenza in non-healthcare settings: social distancing measures. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2020 May;26(5):976.
In this series of systematic reviews, the authors searched for studies of the effects of social distancing measures for pandemic influenza. They reviewed six social distancing measures: isolating ill individuals, contact tracing, quarantining exposed individuals, school measures or closures, workplace measures or closures, and crowd avoidance, with multiple search periods documented up to November 2018. They included 107 epidemiological studies, 37 simulation studies, 12 observational studies, and one interventional study; and included analysis of archival data from the 1918 pandemic.
Citation: Jefferson T, Del Mar CB, Dooley L, et al. Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2011;(7):CD006207.
In this Cochrane review, the authors searched for randomized trials and observational studies assessing physical interventions that might prevent transmission of respiratory viruses. They did not restrict their searches by language of publication and did the search in October 2010. They identified 67 eligible studies, spread across many different interventions.
Citation: Teasdale E, Santer M, Geraghty AWA, et al. Public perceptions of non-pharmaceutical interventions for reducing transmission of respiratory infection: systematic review and synthesis of qualitative studies. BMC Public Health. 2014;14:589.
In this systematic review, the authors searched for qualitative research on public perceptions of physical interventions for reducing transmission of respiratory infection. They did not restrict their searches by date or language of publication and did the search in February 2013. They included 16 studies (total: 1022 participants).
Other reviews of similar topics:
Citation: Saunders-Hastings P, Reisman J, Krewski D. Assessing the state of knowledge regarding the effectiveness of interventions to contain pandemic influenza transmission: a systematic review and narrative synthesis. PLOS One 2016; 11(12): e0168262
Other related Evidence Aid combined summaries: Environmental measures to prevent transmission of infectious diseases, Isolation and quarantine to prevent transmission of infectious diseases