Travel‐related control measures to contain the COVID‐19 pandemic: a rapid review
Abstract
BackgroundIn: In late 2019, first cases of coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19, caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, were reported inWuhan, China. Subsequently COVID-19 spread rapidly around the world. To contain the ensuing pandemic, numerous countries haveimplemented control measures related to international travel, including border closures, partial travel restrictions, entry or exit screening,and quarantine of travellers.ObjectivesTo assess the effectiveness of travel-related control measures during the COVID-19 pandemic on infectious disease and screening-relatedoutcomes.Search methodsWe searched MEDLINE, Embase and COVID-19-specific databases, including the WHO Global Database on COVID-19 Research, the CochraneCOVID-19 Study Register, and the CDC COVID-19 Research Database on 26 June 2020. We also conducted backward-citation searches withexisting reviews.Selection criteriaWe considered experimental, quasi-experimental, observational and modelling studies assessing the effects of travel-related controlmeasures affecting human travel across national borders during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also included studies concerned with severeacute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) as indirect evidence. Primary outcomes were casesavoided, cases detected and a shiL in epidemic development due to the measures. Secondary outcomes were other infectious diseasetransmission outcomes, healthcare utilisation, resource requirements and adverse effects if identified in studies assessing at least oneprimary outcome.Data collection and analysisOne review author screened titles and abstracts; all excluded abstracts were screened in duplicate. Two review authors independentlyscreened full texts. One review author extracted data, assessed risk of bias and appraised study quality. At least one additional reviewauthor checked for correctness of all data reported in the 'Risk of bias' assessment, quality appraisal and data synthesis.