Quarantine is a valuable preventative measure that has long been used in public health. However, it is not the answer to every epidemiological problem. Its effectiveness requires tailoring preventative measures to the unique features of a particular exposure and circumstance.
During an outbreak of highly contagious disease, public health authorities may request that people who have had close contact with a case isolate themselves at home or in a dedicated quarantine facility. This isolation can have positive psychological impacts (such as reduced anxiety) and can be effective in slowing the spread of an epidemic. However, prolonged isolation can also result in psychological stressors including infection fears, boredom, frustration, lack of supplies and loss of income. Some researchers have suggested that these stressors can have long-lasting effects.
In addition to isolation and quarantine, public health actions may include enhanced disease surveillance and symptom monitoring. These activities can help to “flatten” the epidemic curve—the distribution of time from first contact to onset of symptoms—to decrease the likelihood that an epidemic will overwhelm the available health care system.
In addition, public health officials may limit access to areas where the virus is spreading by closing schools, canceling large gatherings and limiting public transportation. Such measures are known as a “shelter in place” and are an example of a public health strategy called a “containment measure.” These strategies can be legally enforced by local, state, or federal officials. They are often accompanied by a declaration of a public health emergency and the use of federal police power functions, which can make breaking quarantine orders a criminal offense.