Non-pharmaceutical interventions

Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) are actions, apart from getting vaccinated and taking medicine, that people and communities can take to help slow the spread of illnesses like influenza (flu), coronavirus (COVID-19), and other viral infections. NPIs are also known as community mitigation strategies.

Types of Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions

Non-pharmaceutical interventions can be divided into three categories: personal, community, and environmental.

Personal NPIs

Personal NPIs are preventive actions that individuals can take every day. These include:

• Hand hygiene: Regular and thorough hand washing with soap and water, or using hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Respiratory etiquette: Covering mouth and nose with a tissue or elbow when coughing or sneezing.
• Face masks: Wearing masks in public settings where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.

Community NPIs

Community NPIs are actions that can be taken to limit the spread of the disease within a specific area. These include:

• Social distancing: Keeping a safe space between yourself and other people who are not from your household.
• School closures and dismissals: Temporarily closing schools or dismissing students to stop or slow the spread of disease.
• Workplace measures and closures: Measures like teleworking and closing workplaces.

Environmental NPIs

Environmental NPIs are changes in the physical environment to reduce the spread of disease. These include:

• Cleaning and disinfection: Regularly cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Ventilation: Improving the ventilation in indoor spaces.

Effectiveness of Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions

The effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions can vary depending on the characteristics of the disease, the population, and the community. However, studies have shown that implementing these interventions can significantly reduce the spread of disease, especially when combined with pharmaceutical interventions like vaccination.

See Also

• Pandemic
• Epidemiology
• Public Health