Abstract

Objective: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) occurred from November 2002 to June 2003, mainly in Mainland China and Hong Kong. Based on possible reasons which may cause the inflection point in SARS, this commentary discusses experiences in the prevention and control of SARS, and makes enlightening suggestions as to how Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) can be effectively contained.

Study design: Factors triggering the inflection point in SARS were analyzed to obtain valuable and reproducible initiatives to contain COVID-19.

Methods: The relationship between the inflection point of SARA and important events and measures that affect the prevalence and control of SARS was analyzed and discussed.

Results: During the campaign against SARS, intervention, attitude, time, seasons and weather were the important factors related to the inflection point. Based on these factors, several countermeasures should be employed in the fight against COVID-19, such as practicing effective intervention and scientific prevention, using experiences in controlling SARS in Beijing as a reference, effectively control of the source of the infection and super spreaders.

Conclusion: Through searching for scientific interventions and taking into valuable experiences available into account, we find out possible reasons which may cause the inflection point for SARS, and make enlightening suggestions for the effective prevention and control of COVID-19. Hopefully, enlightening insights and suggestions will further help contain COVID-19.

Keywords: SARS; Epidemic; Inflection point; Corona Virus Disease 2019