New Study Challenges Conventional Wisdom on Lockdowns

New research highlights the fine balance between health and economic strategies in pandemic response, introducing an innovative approach that adapts to changing virus dynamics.

The COVID-19 pandemic raised questions about when and to what extent costly nonpharmaceutical interventions (e.g., lockdowns) should be used to slow the contagious spread of the virus. In a new study, researchers tackled that question with a dynamic optimization model. They found that small changes can tip the optimal response between very different approaches and identified an alternate approach that has previously not been recognized as effective.