Ideas worth spreading

A COVID-19 "exit" strategy to end lockdown and reopen the economy

2,163,105 views |

Uri Alon |

TED2020

• May 2020

How can we return to work without spurring a second surge of coronavirus infection? Biologist Uri Alon shares a thought-provoking strategy: four days at work followed by 10 days of lockdown, a cycle that would exploit a weakness in the virus's biology and potentially cut its reproductive rate to a manageable level. Learn more about this approach -- which has already been adopted by both companies and countries -- and how it could be a key to reopening the economy responsibly. (This virtual conversation, hosted by head of TED Chris Anderson and science curator David Biello, was recorded on May 20, 2020.)

How can we return to work without spurring a second surge of coronavirus infection? Biologist Uri Alon shares a thought-provoking strategy: four days at work followed by 10 days of lockdown, a cycle that would exploit a weakness in the virus's biology and potentially cut its reproductive rate to a manageable level. Learn more about this approach -- which has already been adopted by both companies and countries -- and how it could be a key to reopening the economy responsibly. (This virtual conversation, hosted by head of TED Chris Anderson and science curator David Biello, was recorded on May 20, 2020.)

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Learn more about the cyclic strategy to suppress COVID-19 and allow economic activity.

Have questions? Check out this FAQ on the cyclic strategy.

About the speakers

Uri Alon

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Uri Alon studies how cells work, using an array of tools (including improv theater) to understand the biological circuits that perform the functions of life.

Chris Anderson

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After a long career in journalism and publishing, Chris Anderson became the curator of the TED Conference in 2002 and has developed it as a platform for identifying and disseminating ideas worth spreading.

David Biello

TED science curator, author

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David Biello is TED's science curator and the author of "The Unnatural World: The Race to Remake Civilization in Earth's Newest Age."

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Learn more about the cyclic strategy to suppress COVID-19 and allow economic activity.

Have questions? Check out this FAQ on the cyclic strategy.