Classification of Non-pharmacological Interventions for Managing Pandemics

Pandemics have altered the course of human history. The overarching goal of pandemic response management is to contain pandemogen spread as quickly and as completely as possible; it is not only the first line of defense, it is the only defense. At the start, only non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) may be available. There is no classification scheme for NPI. This article 1) proposes both a classification scheme for NPI and a functional way of coding them for descriptive and analytic purposes and 2) by describing the classification scheme, builds an initial inventory of NPI. For classification purposes, NPI can be organized according to the following broad categories: 1) community control, 2) moving and mixing, 3) testing and tracing, 4) personal performance, 5) environmental engineering, 6) bodies and burials, and 7) infection interdiction. Classification facilitates describing and analyzing NPI (eg, comparing how countries used different NPI to respond to Covid-19 and to evaluate their effectiveness). Next steps may include 1) elaborating the classification scheme and coding structure in operation detail as an international standard and 2) maintaining a corresponding set of standard definitions. In the interim, any entity could apply the scheme to suit its purposes.