What type of public health strategy was primarily employed during the early containment of COVID-19 cases?

The early containment of COVID-19 cases relied heavily on quarantine and isolation measures. These strategies were implemented to limit the spread of the virus by isolating individuals who were infected or had been exposed to the virus from the general population. Quarantine involved restricting the movement of individuals who might have been exposed to the virus, while isolation was used for those who were confirmed cases of COVID-19, ensuring that they did not come into contact with others to prevent further transmission.

This approach was crucial in the initial phases of the pandemic when little was known about the virus and vaccines were not yet available. By effectively reducing person-to-person contact, these measures helped to flatten the curve, decrease the rate of infections, and manage the strain on healthcare systems.

While vaccination campaigns, widespread testing, and public education initiatives became essential components of the overall public health response later in the pandemic, the immediate and focused response to the early stages of COVID-19 centered on controlling transmission through social distancing, stay-at-home orders, and other related containment practices.