China reduced the COVID-19 infections by 67 fold: Nature

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If China did nothing to contain the novel coronavirus outbreak, there could have been more than seven million COVID-19 patients in the country by late February, according to a report in the Nature magazine.

The report cited "non-pharmaceutical interventions" (NPI) taken by the Chinese government, citing three main methods:

1. Intercity traffic restrictions;

2. Early testing and monitoring of possible patients;

3. Actively practicing social distancing.

"The early detection and isolation of cases was estimated to have prevented more infections than travel restrictions and contact reductions, but combined NPIs achieved the strongest and most rapid effect," said the report.

Another finding of the study is that social distancing can greatly help reducing cases after travel restrictions are lifted.