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Amish Adalja of John Hopkins in early March was asked about timing of social distancing measures. He said the negatives of shutting down (for instance) schools early (when a single case is confirmed in the relevant town/city/district) haven’t been presented. Whilst not normal in an influenza outbreak, it may be the best way now. To the best of our knowledge all you do is buy more time and learn lessons earlier in your epidemic. His opinion is one I heard echoed by other epidemic experts. It wasn’t controversial.
Professor Johan Giesecke, one of the world’s most senior epidemiologists, advisor to the Swedish Government, the first Chief Scientist of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, and an advisor to the director general of the WHO, lays out why he thinks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfN2JWifLCY