The world's longest continuous lockdown lasted 234 days
In short: From total movement control to geographical segmentation, nations experimented with radical public health measures to curb the pandemic. While some countries avoided lockdowns entirely, others endured months of isolation, creating a global patchwork of restrictions that varied by population size, local infection rates, and government strategy.
Global responses to COVID-19 were highly varied. While 63 countries closed schools and universities—affecting roughly 47 percent of the world's students—several nations, including Japan, Sweden, and New Zealand, did not employ lockdowns as a primary strategy. In contrast, India implemented the pandemic's largest lockdown on March 24, 2020, ordering its entire population of 1.3 billion people to stay at home. Argentina provides a nuanced case study in 'geographical segmentation.' Following the initial Mandatory Preventive Social Isolation (ASPO) in March 2020, the government began distinguishing between districts based on population size and the 'doubling time' of cases. For example, restrictions could be released if the doubling time was at least 15 days and the health system had sufficient capacity. This allowed for a transition to 'mandatory distancing' (DISPO) in areas where virus circulation decreased, while maintaining stricter rules in high-contagion zones like the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires. In Australia, the response was characterized by both nationwide measures and localized 'snap lockdowns.' Melbourne, a city of five million residents, saw a continuous lockdown in 2020 lasting 112 days, which was the longest globally at that time. By late 2021, Melbourne and certain cities in Peru and Chile were noted for spending the most cumulative days in lockdown across separate periods. Meanwhile, Toronto, Ontario, is recognized as having the longest continuous lockdown of any major city in the world.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: COVID-19 lockdowns by country
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