Social distancing to slow the US COVID-19 epidemic: Longitudinal pretest-posttest comparison group study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Social distancing measures to address the US coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic may have notable health and social impacts.

Methods and findings

We conducted a longitudinal pretest-posttest comparison group study to estimate the change in COVID-19 case growth before versus after implementation of statewide social distancing measures in the US. The primary exposure was time before (14 days prior to, and through 3 days after) versus after (beginning 4 days after, to up to 21 days after) implementation of the first statewide social distancing measures. Statewide restrictions on internal movement were examined as a secondary exposure. The primary outcome was the COVID-19 case growth rate. The secondary outcome was the COVID-19-attributed mortality growth rat

SUBMITTER: Siedner MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7418951 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature