Can a curfew slow the spread of COVID-19?

Quarantine. Stay-at-home orders. Lockdown. State-of-emergency. While these alarming terms have become part of our everyday vocabulary, new, more restrictive measures are emerging in the fight against COVID-19.

While restrictions on travel and gathering persist, some countries and regions have added the additional measure of a curfew in an attempt to slow the spread of infection and ease the load on strained healthcare networks.

Many European countries such as Spain, Italy, Switzerland, France and U.S. states including California and Ohio have implemented curfews during the pandemic. The first Canadian jurisdiction to follow suit is Quebec, which implemented a curfew for the first time since the era of the Spanish flu.

[Photo Credit: Tyler]

By definition, a curfew is a regulation that requires residents to remain indoors between specified hours.

While the Coronavirus behaves the same whether it’s day or night, people often behave differently after dark. Inhibitions may be lowered, especially if alcohol is involved, prompting people to engage in risky indoor social gatherings. The theory is that the curfew, and the threat of penalties for breaking the rules, will keep people at home and unable to transmit the virus.

Anyone circulating during curfew hours can be stopped and questioned by police and asked to provide proof of their reason for breaking curfew rules. Police can issue fines to anyone who is caught outside without a valid reason. Penalties could also include jail time.

While the curfew aims to limit people’s movement, there are some permitted exceptions. The list of acceptable reasons for being out during the curfew period is usually limited to essential activities such as work, education, or seeking medical attention.

Many jurisdictions have implemented enhanced restrictions designed to slow infection rates, including stay-at-home orders. A stay-at-home order differs from a curfew in that while it limits circulation to only essential trips, it doesn’t restrict what time of day these essential activities may be carried out. Like a curfew, a stay-at-home order may also be enforced by police with penalties including fines and prosecution.

The most effective way to bring infection rates down is to implement a complete lockdown. However, most countries hope to avoid another full lockdown, given the devastating economic and mental health impact of such drastic measures.

Curfews can help by reducing opportunities for people to gather, but it’s difficult to measure how effective curfews are at reducing transmission of the virus. A curfew is typically just one of several restrictions implemented together, including measures such as mask-wearing, social distancing, school closures, and partial lockdowns.

Authorities issue curfews to send a powerful message about the severity of the pandemic. While the arrival of the vaccine is positive news, there is still no clear end in sight.

Varying curfews and stay-at-home orders in different regions can be confusing, and continue to change. Keep informed on the latest public health advice and restrictions in your local jurisdiction:

• Quebec
• Ontario
• Saskatchewan
• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Manitoba
• Prince Edward Island
• Nova Scotia
• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Nunavut
• Northwest Territories
• Yukon