Impact of physical distancing measures against COVID-19 on contacts and mixing patterns: repeated cross-sectional surveys, the Netherlands, 2016-17, April 2020 and June 2020

ConclusionStrict physical distancing measures greatly reduced overall contact numbers, which likely contributed to curbing the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic in the Netherlands. However, age groups reacted differently when measures were relaxed, with children reverting to normal contact numbers and elderly individuals maintaining restricted contact numbers. These findings offer guidance for age-targeted measures in future waves of the pandemic.PMID:33632374 | DOI:10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.8.2000994

Source: Euro Surveill - February 26, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Jantien A Backer Liesbeth Mollema Eric Ra Vos Don Klinkenberg Fiona Rm van der Klis Hester E de Melker Susan van den Hof Jacco Wallinga Source Type: research