Scientific research

The effectiveness of travel-related measures to curb the spread of COVID-19: a review of evidence

Travel-related measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 has played an important role in shaping the transmission of the disease globally especially in the early stages of the pandemic, according to a review of evidence by researchers from HKU SPH, the University of Maryland, US, and the Simon Fraser University in Canada. The review that was published in BMJ Global Health identified 29 studies which investigated the effects of either international or domestic travel measures on COVID-19 transmission dynamics. Based on available evidence, the authors noted that travel-related measures may reduce the spread of COVID-19 particularly when they were applied early in the pandemic. The widespread adoption and persistent use of travel-related measures, including travel bans and restrictions, challenges a widely held belief that travel measures are unlikely to play an important role in curbing the international spread of the virus, said the authors.

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DOI: https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/3/e004537

# control and mitigation measures