As the threat of COVID-19 continues, infectious disease expert and TED Fellow Adam Kucharski answers five key questions about the novel coronavirus, providing necessary perspective on its transmission, how governments have responded and what might need to change about our social behavior to end the pandemic. (This video is excerpted from a 70-minute interview between Kucharski and head of TED Chris Anderson. Listen to the full interview at http://go.ted.com/adamkucharski. Recorded March 11, 2020)

Adam Kucharski: How can we control the coronavirus pandemic?

How can we control the coronavirus pandemic?

Massive changes in social interactions, including working from home, can potentially cut viral transmissions by two-thirds.

Countries face a balancing act between imposing necessary public health measures and mitigating social, economic, and psychological impacts.

Targeted containment and massive social interaction shifts are crucial to control virus outbreaks and prevent pandemics.