Feasibility, Acceptability, and Barriers to Implementing Select Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions to Reduce the Transmission of Pandemic Influenza - United States, 2019

Ahmed, F.; Qualls, N.; Kowalczyk, S.; Randolph Cunningham, S. M.; Zviedrite, N.; Uzicanin, A.

Objective: To assess feasibility and acceptability of implementing non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) reserved for influenza pandemics (voluntary home quarantine; use of face masks by ill persons; childcare facility closures; school closures; and social distancing at schools, workplaces, and mass gatherings), and the availability and usefulness of influenza surveillance data for triggering implementation of NPIs. Methods: Public health officials in all 50 states, Washington, DC, and 8 territories, and a stratified, random sample of 822 local health departments (LHDs) were surveyed in 2019. Results: The response rates for the states/territories and LHDs were 75% (44/59) and 25% (206/822), respectively. About two-thirds to three-fourths of the state/territorial respondents stated that the feasibility and acceptability of implementing the NPIs were high, except for K-12 school closures lasting up to 6 weeks or 6 months. The LHD respondents also indicated that feasibility and acceptability were lowest for prolonged school closures. Compared to LHD respondents in suburban or urban areas, those in rural areas expressed lower feasibility and acceptability. Availability of influenza surveillance data in near real-time was lowest for influenza-like illness and influenza cases in schools. Conclusions: The findings can provide insights regarding the implementation of NPIs during the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.