Who is popular today?

The coronavirus outbreak can be suppressed as China and others have done, but we need to act now• Anthony Costello is professor of global health and sustainable development at University College London and a former director of maternal and child health at the WHO• See all our coronavirus coverage
The public health response to a serious epidemic is laid out simply and clearly by the World Health Organization (WHO). Test intensively, trace contacts, quarantine and maintain social distancing. When Covid-19 got out of control in Wuhan, after three weeks of public health inaction, the Chinese authorities mounted a proper campaign to control the virus. They listened to the WHO. They tested extensively, setting up mobile testing centres, and getting the test result time down from four days to four hours. They cut the time from onset of symptoms to lab result from 12 to three days. They identified family clusters (the virus spreads mainly through extended close contact so family members are most at risk) and arranged isolation centres for contacts.
Related: Coronavirus UK cases: find out how many are in your area Continue reading...