STAT

Social distancing is controlling Covid-19; now scientists need to figure out which measures are most effective

A new, lower #coronavirus death estimate is prompting officials to be cautiously optimistic about controlling the outbreak. But which social distancing measure has reduced transmission the most?
A person goes for a walk in Brooklyn last weekend with the New York City skyline in the background.

Banning gatherings, having people stay at home, closing schools, and other measures to reduce the spread of Covid-19 are working so well that an influential model of the pandemic’s course now projects that the number of U.S deaths from the new coronavirus by early August will be 60,415 rather than the minimum of 100,000 that it forecast last month.

The new, lower estimate is prompting officials to be cautiously optimistic about controlling the outbreak, possibly by early summer. But it comes with a mystery: Which social distancing has reduced transmission the most?

Figuring that out will be crucial as policymakers look

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from STAT

STAT2 min read
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re Reading About An Amgen Obesity Drug, A Senate Bill On Shortages, And More
Amgen will no longer develop an early-stage obesity pill, and will instead focus on a more advanced injectable candidate to compete with Wegovy and Zepbound.
STAT2 min read
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re Reading About AstraZeneca CEO Pay, Alternatives To WuXi And More
And so, another working week will soon draw to a close. Not a moment too soon, yes? This is, you may recall, our treasured signal to daydream about weekend plans.…
STAT2 min read
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re Reading About FTC Fighting ‘Junk’ Patents, Pfizer Direct-to-consumer Plans, And More
The FTC expanded its campaign against pharmaceutical companies for filing what it calls “junk” patent listings for 20 different brand-name treatments.

Related Books & Audiobooks