Thread by @segal_eran

Our new preprint: The effect of a national lockdown in response to COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence of clinical symptoms in the population tinyurl.com/ybvwxtts

Using 1M surveys we collected coronaisrael.org/en we found 80% reduction in symptoms after lockdown in Israel

We observed a sharp decline in every symptom after lockdown

Since survey symptoms are not specific to COVID-19, our results represent an overall nationwide reduction in the prevalence
of infectious diseases, including COVID-19

Data from ministry of health on Influenza like symptoms in Israel from previous years show a very low rate of influenza like illness in this time period and our results are thus unlikely due to normal seasonal variation of Influenza infection.

The decrease in symptoms is evident in nearly all cities, despite significant population and geographic differences between them

We also see the decrease in symptoms across all age groups, with the sharpest decline found in the youngest (<17 years old) age group

As far as we know, this is the first quantification of the effect of lockdown policies on prevalence of self-reported clinical symptoms in the population

Physical distancing results in a sharp decrease in the prevalence of clinical symptoms, both in adults and in children

This knowledge is crucial for assessing the impact of lockdown
policies, and for devising effective control measures both in the current COVID-19 pandemic and in future pandemics

And once again, all thanks to my incredible group of students @AyyaKeshet @GavrieliAmir @smadarshilo @tomer1812 @Nastya08434121 @KalkaIris @H_Rossman Dmitry Kolobkov Amit Lavon Saar Shoer Tal Karady

Hard to believe that all this was an idea just 6 weeks ago...