Preventative and Proactive Measures to Mitigate the Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission can be mitigated through a combination of preventive and proactive measures. In this review, we first highlight modes of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, quantitatively assess individual mitigation measures, and conclude with a qualitative comparison. We detail how the efficacy of specific face masks must be balanced with their availability, while for comparison, social distancing and good hygiene practices may not be as directly effective as respirators but are widely accessible methods not subject to limited supplies. Controlling environmental setting, testing, and contact tracing are highly effective mitigation practices, but typically require collective action versus the individual activity of the former strategies. Our qualitative comparative assessment of preventative mitigation factors (i.e., face mask usage, social distancing, hygiene, and choice of environment setting) and proactive mitigation measures (i.e., testing, and contact tracing) serves to inform communities on the effectiveness and feasibility of these strategies.