Figure 1 and Table 3 display the interventions by the 11 countries in our study and the dates these interventions became effective.
Table 3: Timeline of Interventions.
Country Type Event Date effective
Austria
School closure
ordered Nationwide school closures. 20 14/3/2020
Public events
banned Banning of gatherings of more than 5 people.21 10/3/2020 Lockdown
ordered
Banning all access to public spaces and gatherings of more than 5 people. Advice to maintain 1m
distance.22 16/3/2020
Social distancing
encouraged Recommendation to maintain a distance of 1m.22 16/3/2020 Case-based
measures Implemented at lockdown.22 16/3/2020
Belgium
School closure
ordered Nationwide school closures.23 14/3/2020
Public events banned
All recreational activities cancelled regardless of
size.23 12/3/2020
Lockdown ordered
Citizens are required to stay at home except for work and essential journeys. Going outdoors only
with household members or 1 friend.24 18/3/2020 Social distancing
encouraged
Public transport recommended only for essential journeys, work from home encouraged, all public
places e.g. restaurants closed.23 14/3/2020 Case-based
measures
Everyone should stay at home if experiencing a
cough or fever.25 10/3/2020
Denmark
School closure ordered
Secondary schools shut and universities (primary
schools also shut on 16th).26 13/3/2020
Public events banned
Bans of events >100 people, closed cultural
institutions, leisure facilities etc.27 12/3/2020 Lockdown
ordered
Bans of gatherings of >10 people in public and all
public places were shut.27 18/3/2020
Social distancing encouraged
Limited use of public transport. All cultural institutions shut and recommend keeping
appropriate distance.28 13/3/2020
Case-based measures
Everyone should stay at home if experiencing a
cough or fever.29 12/3/2020
France
School closure
ordered Nationwide school closures.30 14/3/2020
Public events
banned Bans of events >100 people.31 13/3/2020
Lockdown ordered
Everybody has to stay at home. Need a
self-authorisation form to leave home.32 17/3/2020 Social distancing
encouraged Advice at the time of lockdown.32 16/3/2020 Case-based
measures Advice at the time of lockdown.32 16/03/2020
Germany
School closure
ordered Nationwide school closures.33 14/3/2020
Public events banned
No gatherings of >1000 people. Otherwise
regional restrictions only until lockdown.34 22/3/2020 Lockdown
ordered
Gatherings of > 2 people banned, 1.5 m
distance.35 22/3/2020
Social distancing encouraged
Avoid social interaction wherever possible
recommended by Merkel.36 12/3/2020
Case-based measures
Advice for everyone experiencing symptoms to contact a health care agency to get tested and
then self-isolate.37 6/3/2020
Italy
School closure
ordered Nationwide school closures.38 5/3/2020
Public events
banned The government bans all public events.39 9/3/2020 Lockdown
ordered
The government closes all public places. People
have to stay at home except for essential travel.40 11/3/2020 Social distancing
encouraged
A distance of more than 1m has to be kept and any other form of alternative aggregation is to be
excluded.40 9/3/2020
Case-based measures
Advice to self-isolate if experiencing symptoms
and quarantine if tested positive.41 9/3/2020
Norway
School closure ordered
Norwegian Directorate of Health closes all educational institutions. Including childcare
facilities and all schools.42 13/3/2020
Public events banned
The Directorate of Health bans all non-necessary
social contact.42 12/3/2020
Lockdown ordered
Only people living together are allowed outside
together. Everyone has to keep a 2m distance.43 24/3/2020 Social distancing
encouraged
The Directorate of Health advises against all
travelling and non-necessary social contacts.42 16/3/2020 Case-based
measures
Advice to self-isolate for 7 days if experiencing a
cough or fever symptoms.44 15/3/2020
Spain
School closure
ordered Nationwide school closures.45 13/3/2020
Public events
banned Banning of all public events by lockdown.46 14/3/2020 Lockdown
ordered Nationwide lockdown.43 14/3/2020
Social distancing encouraged
Advice on social distancing and working remotely
from home.47 9/3/2020
Case-based measures
Advice to self-isolate for 7 days if experiencing a
cough or fever symptoms.47 17/3/2020
Sweden
School closure
ordered Colleges and upper secondary schools shut.48 18/3/2020 Public events
banned The government bans events >500 people.49 12/3/2020 Lockdown
ordered No lockdown occurred. NA
Social distancing encouraged
People even with mild symptoms are told to limit social contact, encouragement to work from
home.50 16/3/2020
Case-based measures
Advice to self-isolate if experiencing a cough or
fever symptoms.51 10/3/2020
Switzerland
School closure
ordered No in person teaching until 4th of April.52 14/3/2020 Public events
banned The government bans events >100 people.52 13/3/2020 Lockdown
ordered Gatherings of more than 5 people are banned.53 2020-03-20 Social distancing
encouraged
Advice on keeping distance. All businesses where this cannot be realised have been closed in all
states (kantons).54 16/3/2020
Case-based measures
Advice to self-isolate if experiencing a cough or
fever symptoms.55 2/3/2020
UK
School closure ordered
Nationwide school closure. Childminders, nurseries and sixth forms are told to follow the
guidance.56 21/3/2020
Public events
banned Implemented with lockdown.57 24/3/2020
Lockdown ordered
Gatherings of more than 2 people not from the same household are banned and police
enforceable.57 24/3/2020
Social distancing encouraged
Advice to avoid pubs, clubs, theatres and other
public institutions.58 16/3/2020
Case-based measures
Advice to self-isolate for 7 days if experiencing a
cough or fever symptoms.59 12/3/2020
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