Quantifying SARS-CoV-2 transmission suggests epidemic control with digital contact tracing

Instantaneous contact tracing New analyses indicate that severe acute respiratory syndrome–coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is more infectious and less virulent than the earlier SARS-CoV-1, which emerged in China in 2002. Unfortunately, the current virus has greater epidemic potential because it is difficult to trace mild or presymptomatic infections. As no treatment is currently available, the only tools that we can currently deploy to stop the epidemic are contact tracing, social distancing, and quarantine, all of which are slow to implement. However imperfect the data, the current global emergency requires more timely interventions. Ferretti et al. explored the feasibility of protecting the population (that is,…

• BA
  Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

  Awards: INV-003680, OPP1175094
• SR
  Sight Research UK

  Award: NE/S011854/1
• NE
  Natural Environment Research Council

  Award: NE/S011854/1
• WT
  Wellcome Trust Centre for Mitochondrial Research