Global Health Progress

DOOMSDAY visions of curfews, sealed borders, travel bans and scuffles over food are a long way from materialising in the current crisis. But if the World Health Organization declares a pandemic, countries could bring in draconian measures to isolate and treat infection, prevent further spread and keep societies functioning. On Monday 27 April, the global threat level rose to 4 on a 6-point scale (see diagram), escalating the WHO strategy to prevent further spread of the virus beyond Mexico, where the epidemic originated. It remained on 4 as New Scientist went to press.

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