Why did countries choose lockdowns as a solution to COVID-19?

In this article for the World Economic Forum, Samantha Sault explains how a lockdown works and why it has become necessary to implement it. The goal, researchers say, is to reduce the number of infections so as not to overwhelm healthcare systems, particularly in countries with fewer resources.

Two strategies are currently being used to control the spread of the coronavirus – mitigation through self-isolation and social distancing, and suppression through lockdowns. Data from Sault’s research shows that mitigation can only slow down, not end, the epidemic spread. Lockdowns remain a preferred solution for many countries.

Editor’s Note: There is growing evidence that lockdowns could lead to the second wave of infections. Future articles will be published on this site discussing this.