When news of the novel coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan City emerged, the authorities responded by closing the “"wet market”“ that is believed to be the source of the disease. This level of quarantine is not unprecedented, but what happened next certainly is. The Chinese government quarantined entire cities, including restricting the movements of 50 million people in Hubei Province.

China has been praised for its swift response to the outbreak, but not everyone is impressed. Public health expert Vageesh Jain calls the radical measures an "illusion of intervention” – one that cannot be considered evidence-based best practice. In fact, he argues, it could hinder the functioning of healthcare and cause problems for disease control.

Long before people knew about the germs that transmit infectious disease, they tried to fend off illness by keeping those who were sick separate. The Bible’s Old Testament describes people with leprosy being isolated from the rest of the group, for example. Today scientists know the genetic sequence of the new coronavirus, researchers are working toward a vaccine, and medical teams are using modern techniques to treat those who are ill. Even so, isolating the sick can still be part of the strategy to stop the disease from spreading. Medical historian Leslie Leighton describes quarantine’s ancient roots and how its use has evolved through time.