Study Study design Objectives Population, n, Country Interventions Risk of bias
Cohort studies Cohort studies Cohort studies Cohort studies Cohort studies Cohort studies
Hsieh et al., 2005 29
Retrospective cohort study
To evaluate the effectiveness of quarantine in reducing the time from onset to diagnosis and the time from diagnosis to classification
SARS positive patients, previously quarantined or not quarantined during the 2003 outbreak n=819 Taiwan
Quarantine of individuals who were in close contact with infected persons
Moderate (no control for confounding)
Pang et al., 2003 26
Retrospective cohort study
To describe and evaluate measures undertaken to control the SARS outbreak: quarantine among other things
Individual with close contact to a SARS patients who were quarantined n= 30,000 Beijing
Quarantine of individuals who were in close contact with infected persons
Moderate (no control for confounding)
Park et al., 2020 27
Prospective cohort study
To evaluate the effects of different quarantine strategies on the prevention and rate of secondary viral transmission
Patients from 3 hemodialysis units exposed to MERS, during the 2015 outbreak n=116 Korea
Quarantine of exposed individuals
Serious (no control for confounding; selection bias)
Wang et al., 2007 28
Retrospective cohort study
To identify risk factors for the development of SARS among quarantined persons
Individuals with known or suspected (travelers coming from SARS-affected areas) exposure to infected people during the 2003 outbreak n=147,526 Taiwan
Quarantine of known or suspected exposed individuals
Moderate (no control for confounding)
Modelling studies Modelling studies Modelling studies Modelling studies Modelling studies Modelling studies
Study Type of model Objectives Data source, setting, n Interventions Quality
Becker et al., 2005 30
Transmission model
To determine to which extent the interventions reduce the effective reproduction number and which intervention requirements are necessary to achieve elimination of the disease
Data from SARS outbreak 2003 in Singapore and Hong Kong and the Australian census 2001 n=NR closing schools contact tracing isolation quarantine measures to avoid exposure (e.g., wearing masks, reducing hand-to-mouth contacts)
Minor concerns
Chau et al., 2003 31
Back-projection method
To estimate the SARS infection curve and assess the effectiveness of interventions
Data from the SARS outbreak in Hong Kong; March 1, 2003 to June 24, 2003 n=NR disinfection of infected areas isolation quarantine protective equipment in hospitals
Major concerns
Day et al., 2006 30,32
Probabilistic model
To determine which factors make quarantine an effective control measure for some diseases but not for others
Data based on other mathematical models and epidemiological studies of SARS n=NR quarantine
No concerns
Fraser et al., 2004 33
Model of infectious disease outbreak dynamics
To identify the general properties of emerging infectious agents that determine the likely success of isolating symptomatic individuals and tracing and quarantining their contacts
Data based on other mathematical models, the analysis of clinical patient records and case studies of 4 known pathogens: SARS, HIV, pandemic influenza, smallpox; n=NR 100% effective isolation of symptomatic patients 90% effective isolation 75% effective isolation 100% effective isolation with 100% effective contact tracing 90% effective isolation with 100% effective contact tracing 75% effective isolation with 100% effective contact tracing
Major concerns
Gumel et al., 2004 34
Deterministic model
To examine the impact of isolation and quarantine on the control of SARS and cumulative deaths
Data from WHO and epidemiological studies (outbreaks in Toronto, Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore) n=NR isolation average quarantine
Minor concerns
Gupta et al., 2005 35
Mathematic and health economic model
To estimate the economic effects of an epidemic, the number of averted infections, the direct and indirect costs of quarantine, and the total savings
Data from other researchers, the popular press, and interviews about the SARS outbreak in Toronto 2003 n=NR isolation and treatment of infected people without quarantine quarantine implemented early on
Major concerns
Hsieh et al., 2007 36
Susceptible–infective–removal model with additional compart-ments
To assess the impact of quarantine on prevented additional SARS cases and additional deaths
Data from Taiwan Center for Disease Control, SARS database (SARS outbreak in Taiwan 2003) n=151,460 Quarantine of individuals who were in close contact with infected persons Quarantine of travelers coming from SARS-affected areas
Minor concerns
Lloyd-Smith et al., 2003 37
Stochastic model
To address the relative benefits of case isolation, quarantine, hospital-wide contact precautions and reduced HCW (health care workes)-community mixing
Data source = NR n= 100,000 individuals and a hospital of 3000 individuals contact tracing isolation quarantine
Minor concerns
Mubayi et al., 2010 38
Dynamical model, cost-effectiveness model
To compare 3 different quarantine strategies implemented alongside a single isolation strategy, with resource allocation modeled in terms of simple cost functions
Data from SARS outbreaks in Hong Kong (census data from 2001–2004 in Hong Kong City) and related studies n=NR three contact-tracing strategies isolation
No concerns
Nishiura et al., 2004 39
Deterministic mathematical model
To predict the epidemiological outcomes and assess the effect of any specified control strategy on SARS
Data from SARS outbreak in Hong Kong and epidemiological data from other countries n=NR isolation quarantine precautionary public health measures
Major concerns
Peak et al., 2017 40
Agent-based branching model
To identify which disease characteristics and intervention attributes are most critical in deciding between quarantine and symptom monitoring and to provide a general framework for understanding the consequences of isolation policies during emerging epidemics
Data from other case studies n=NR contact tracing isolation quarantine symptom monitoring
Minor concerns
Pourbohloul et al., 2005 41
Urban contact network model
To assess a population’s vulnerability to an infectious disease based on the structure of the network and on the average transmissibility of the disease
Publicly available data from sources such as Statistics Canada. n=10,308 (2,000 households) face masks closing public venues isolation quarantine vaccination
No concerns
Wang et al., 2004 42,
General, deterministic model
To predict future incidence and simulate the impact of additional control strategies by studying the transmission dynamics of the spread of SARS in Beijing
Daily reported cases by the Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China. n=NR 6 subpopulations susceptible exposed quarantine suspect probable removed
Minor concerns
Wen-Tao et al., 2020 45
Susceptible–infected–recovered model
To predict the outcome of prevention and control measures of diverse intensity in Wuhan
Official data from COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan. n=1·5 million inhabitants of Wuhan Combination and different intensity of the cessation of public transportation the recommendation to citizens to stay at home the isolation of confirmed and suspected patients
Minor concerns
Yip et al., 2007 43
Back-projection method
To reconstruct the infection curve for the 2003 SARS epidemic in Taiwan and ascertain the temporal changes in the mean daily number of infections that occurred during the course of the outbreak
Taiwan Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization n=NR Quarantine of people who potentially had contact with infectious individuals Quarantine of travelers coming from SARS-affected areas
Major concerns
Yue et al., 2020 46
Dynamic infectious disease model
To develop a model to predict the future trend of the epidemic, introducing a quarantine rate parameter to the model
Numbers of confirmed cases and cures published by the Chinese National Health Committee n=NR Different extent of combined control measures
Minor concerns
Zhang et al., 2017 44
Transmission dynamics mode
To estimate the transmissibility of MERS and identify the effective countermeasures that stopped its spread
Outbreak data released by Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. n=NR isolation quarantine
No concerns