Learning from COVID-19 in order to inform future pandemic strategies

Abstract: As COVID-19 has shown in several jurisdictions, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, using an elimination strategy to delay widespread transmission of SARS-CoV-2 for 18 months or more allowed time for development and distribution of effective vaccines. This approach was particularly evident in New Zealand, Australia, and Singapore. The net effect was that such countries had relatively low cumulative COVID-19 mortality, less pressure on health services, and better economic outcomes, than most other high-income countries.