Non-pharmaceutical intervention (epidemiology)

Hand washing can be done with soap and water, or with alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Hand washing is a practice already in use in many countries in order to prevent the spread of communicable disease. Although alcohol-based rubs may be too expensive in some settings, soap and water hand sanitisation is among the most cost-effective preventative measures.[7]

Respiratory etiquette refers to the methods a person uses to prevent transmission of disease when coughing or sneezing. This includes covering the mouth with the hand, elbow, or sleeve while in the process of coughing or sneezing, as well as proper disposal or washing of the contaminated material used to cover the mouth after a cough or sneeze has occurred. Like proper hand hygiene, this is a cost-effective intervention type.[7]

Face masks can be worn to reduce person-to-person transmission of respiratory disease. Medical masks are used in health care settings even during times when there is not a pandemic. During a pandemic, it is recommended that symptomatic individuals wear disposable medical grade masks at all times when exposed to others, and that asymptomatic members of the public wear face masks during severe pandemics to reduce transmission. Although the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended against the use of reusable cloth masks in 2019,[7] it now suggests their use by the general public when physical distancing is not feasible as part of their "Do it all!" approach to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10]

Germs can survive outside the body on hard surfaces for periods ranging from hours to weeks, depending on the virus and environmental conditions. The disinfection of high-touch surfaces with substances such as bleach or alcohol kills germs, preventing indirect contact transmission. Dirty surfaces should be washed before the use of disinfectant.[7][11]

Ultraviolet (UV) light can be used to destroy microorganisms that exist in the environment. The installation of UV light fixtures can be costly and time consuming; it is unlikely that they could be used at the outbreak of an epidemic. There are possible health concerns involving UV light, as it may cause cancer and eye problems. The WHO does not recommend its use.[7]

Increased ventilation of a room through opening a window or through mechanized ventilation systems may reduce transmission within the room. Although opening a window may introduce allergens and air pollution, or in some climates, cold air, it is overall a cheap and effective intervention type, and the advantages likely outweigh the disadvantages.[7]

Viruses such as influenza and coronavirus thrive in cold, dry environments, and increasing the humidity of a room may decrease their transmission.[12] Higher humidity, however, may cause mold and mildew, which may in turn cause respiratory issues. The purchase of humidifiers is also expensive and supplies would likely be short at the outset of a epidemic.[7]

Contact tracing involves identifying individuals that an infected person may have been in close contact with, and notifying those people that they may have been exposed to the infection. Contact tracing is a measure that brings with it ethical implications, in that it involves invading the privacy of the infected person. It also brings with it a large resource cost, as it requires trained personnel to perform the tracing. Less wealthy countries may not be able to mobilize a contact tracing task force. Contact tracing is likely to lead to an increase to those in quarantine. Overall, it may be justified in that it can reduce the spread of disease at the outset of a pandemic, and allows for early identification of cases in those who were exposed to an infected person.[7]

Infected individuals may be restricted in their movements or isolated away from others, either at home or at a health care facility, or at another designated location. This isolation may either be voluntary (self-isolation), or mandatory. Although voluntary self-isolation is considered to be a low ethical risk, as it is common practice in many areas for someone who is sick to stay at home, mandatory isolation brings with it ethical concerns, such as freedom of movement and social stigma. There is higher risk for infected individuals who share their homes with others to transmit their disease, such as to a parent or roommate. An isolated individual may also be financially impacted by their inability to continue to go to work. Overall, isolation of the sick is widely accepted as an intervention among health professionals and policy makers, though acceptance among the public varies.[7]

Quarantine involves the voluntary or imposed confinement of non-ill persons who have been exposed to an illness, regardless of if they have contracted it. Quarantine will often happen at the home, but may happen elsewhere, such as aboard ships (maritime quarantine) or airlines (onboard quarantine). Like isolation of sick individuals, forced quarantine of exposed individuals brings with it ethical concerns, though in this case the concerns may be greater; quarantine involves restricting the movement of those who may otherwise be fine, and in some cases may even cause them greater risk if they are quarantining with the sick person who they were exposed to, such as a sick family member or roommate who they live with. Like isolation, quarantine brings with it financial risk due to work absenteeism.[7]

Measures taken involving schools range from making changes to operations within schools, to complete school closures. Lesser measures may involve reducing the density of students, such as by distancing desks, cancelling activities, reducing class sizes, or staggering class schedules. Sick students may be isolated from the greater student body, such as by having them stay home or otherwise segregated away from other students.

More drastic measures include class dismissal, in which classes are cancelled but the school stays open to provide childcare to some children, and complete school closure. Both measures may either be reactive or proactive: In a reactive case, the measure takes place after an outbreak has occurred within the school; in a proactive case, the measure takes place in order to prevent spread within the community.

Closures of schools may have an impact on the families of affected children, especially low-income families. Parents may be forced to miss work to care for their children, affecting financial stability; children may also miss out on free school meals, causing nutritional concerns. Long absences from schools due to closure can also have negative effects on students' education.[7]

Measures taken in the workplace include working from home; paid leave; staggering shifts such that arrival, exit, and break times are different for each employee; reduced contact; and extended weekends.

A more drastic measure is workplace closure. The financial effect of workplace closure on both the individual and the economy could be severe, though the effect could be mitigated through telecommuting. Those who cannot work from home, such as those in the essential services, may not be able to comply with guidelines. One simulation study found that school closure coupled with 50% absenteeism in the workplace would have the highest financial impact of all scenarios it looked at, though some studies found that the combination would be effective at decreasing both the attack rate and height of an epidemic.

One benefit of workplace closures is that when used in conjunction with school closures they would avoid the need for parents to make childcare arrangements for children who are staying home from school.

The WHO recommends workplace closures only in the case of extraordinarily severe epidemics and pandemics.[7]

Avoiding crowding may involve avoiding crowded areas such as shopping centres and transportation hubs; closing public spaces and banning large gatherings, such as sports events or religious activities; or setting a limit on small gatherings, such as limiting them to no more than five people. There are negative consequences to the banning of gatherings; banning cultural or religious activities, for example, may prevent access to support in a time of crisis. Gatherings also allow for sharing of information, which can provide comfort and reduce fear.

The WHO recommends this intervention only in moderate and severe epidemics and pandemics.[7]