Rapid and sustained containment of covid-19 is achievable and worthwhile: implications for pandemic response

In the 20 months since the World Health Organization declared covid-19 to be a pandemic, more than 250 million cases have been confirmed. More than 5 million deathshave occurred disproportionately by country, with 10% of countries reporting 80% of cases. 1 In a new pandemic, with no vaccines prepared, non-pharmaceutical interventions are the only response. In the first year of the covid-19 pandemic, several countries that aimed to completely interrupt community transmission-China, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand-achieved and maintained containment. 2 3 Here, we analyse China's containment strategy before vaccine roll-out and describe measures for initial and sustained containment and benefits for the country.