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Unmanned Aerial Systems: Air Force Should Take Additional Steps to Improve Aircrew Staffing and Support, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Document: "High demand and constant combat operations have created challenges for Air Force RPA [remotely piloted aircraft] pilots and sensor operators who conduct missions across the world. In January 2017, the Air Force approved a combat-to-dwell policy to better balance RPA units' time in combat with non-combat activities. It plans to fully implement the policy in 2024. Senate Report 115-262 included a provision that GAO [Government Accountability Office] review ongoing challenges in the Air Force RPA community. This report assesses, among other things, the extent to which the Air Force (1) met overall RPA pilot and sensor operator staffing targets and tracked its progress in implementing its combat-to-dwell policy and (2) identified and met instructor staffing levels at its RPA formal training unit. GAO analyzed selected Air Force accession, retention, and instructor staffing data; held non-generalizable focus groups at three RPA military bases; and interviewed officials at various levels of the RPA enterprise."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-06
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National Flood Insurance Program: Fiscal Exposure Persists Despite Property Acquisitions, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Document: "NFIP [National Flood Insurance Program] has faced significant financial challenges over the years, highlighted by a rise in catastrophic flood events and its $20.5 billion debt to Treasury. Contributing to these challenges are repetitive loss properties--those that have flooded and received a claim payment multiple times. Acquiring and demolishing these properties is one alternative to paying for repeated claims, but questions exist about the cost, efficiency, and effectiveness of this approach. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review FEMA's property acquisition efforts as a means of addressing NFIP's financial challenges. This report examines (1) funding programs available for acquisitions, (2) FEMA's flood mitigation efforts, and (3) factors contributing to NFIP's fiscal exposure. To conduct this work, GAO reviewed FEMA guidance and other documentation; analyzed FEMA data sets related to NFIP policies and claims, repetitive loss properties, and mitigation projects; and interviewed FEMA officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-06
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Science & Tech Spotlight: E-Cigarettes
From the Document: "With millions of teens and young adults using e-cigarettes, a new generation could become addicted to nicotine and face other health risks. For some adult smokers, e-cigarettes may offer a less harmful substitute for traditional cigarettes. However, long-term effects on users, second-hand exposure, and environmental effects are not yet fully known."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-06
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FY 2019 Government Shutdown: Selected Agencies Could Improve Contingency Planning for Potential Shutdown Scenarios and Strengthen Some Internal Controls, Report to the Ranking Member Committee on Finance, U.S. Senate
From the Document: "A lapse in appropriations resulted in the federal government partially shutting down from December 22, 2018, to January 25, 2019. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to evaluate agency contingency plans and operations during the FY 2019 shutdown. This report assesses the extent to which selected agencies and selected components (1) had contingency plans that were consistent with applicable OMB [Office of Management and Budget] guidance, (2) planned for a potential prolonged shutdown and changed operations during the shutdown, and (3) had shutdown policies and procedures consistent with relevant internal control principles. GAO selected CBP [U.S. Customs and Border Protection], IRS [Internal Revenue Service], ITA [International Trade Administration], and USTR [U.S. Trade Representative] as agency components for review because they are under the jurisdiction of the Senate Committee on Finance and were affected by the FY 2019 shutdown. GAO reviewed OMB's guidance, agencies' contingency plans, and other documentation. GAO interviewed agency and component officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-06
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K-12 Education: Characteristics of School Shootings, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "In addition to the potential loss of life, school shootings can evoke feelings of profound fear and anxiety that disturb a community's sense of safety and security. Questions have been raised about whether schools' approaches to addressing student behavior are a factor in school shootings. These approaches include discipline that removes the offending students from the classroom or school, and preventative approaches meant to change student behaviors before problems arise. GAO was asked to examine school shootings, including the link between discipline and shootings. This report examines 1) the characteristics of school shootings and affected schools, and 2) what is known about the link between discipline and school shootings. To do so, GAO analyzed data on school shootings and school characteristics for school years 2009-10 through 2018-19; and conducted a literature review to identify empirical research from 2009 to 2019 that examined discipline approaches in school, and the effects of these approaches on outcomes of school gun violence, school violence, or school safety. GAO also interviewed selected researchers to gather perspectives about challenges and limitations in conducting research on school discipline and school shootings."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-06
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Broadband: Observations on Past and Ongoing Efforts to Expand Access and Improve Mapping Data, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Document: "Broadband is critical for economic, educational, and personal uses. Industry and federal investments have made broadband available to the vast majority of Americans. For example, FCC's [Federal Communications Commission] high-cost program provides funding to broadband providers to deploy broadband in rural, insular, and high-cost areas. However, some rural areas continue to lack access due, in part, to challenges with providing service to areas where deployment costs are high and returns on investment are low. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to examine the current state of broadband investment and deployment. This report examines (1) industry and federal investments to deploy broadband in the United States since 2009, and (2) efforts federal agencies are making to address deployment challenges."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-06
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Improper Payments: Improvements Needed to Ensure Reliability and Accuracy in DOE's Risk Assessments and Reporting, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Document: "Improper payments--payments that should not have been made or were made in an incorrect amount--are a significant problem in the federal government. Agencies are required to perform risk assessments to identify programs that are susceptible to significant improper payments. House Report 115-697 included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review DOE's [Department of Energy] system for tracking improper payments. This report examines the extent to which (1) the amounts reported in DOE's AFRs [agency financial reports] for fiscal years 2015 through 2019 were accurate and complete, and (2) its fiscal year 2018 risk assessment provided a reasonable basis for its risk determination. GAO reviewed DOE's improper payment reporting for fiscal years 2015 through 2019 and its fiscal year 2018 risk assessment, and reviewed documents and interviewed officials from 10 of 48 reporting sites selected to provide a range of sites and about half of fiscal year 2018 reported improper payments."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-06
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Social Cost of Carbon: Identifying a Federal Entity to Address the National Academies' Recommendations Could Strengthen Regulatory Analysis, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "To address climate change, some countries develop monetary estimates to assess the costs and benefits of government actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide. In the United States, in 2009, OMB [Office of Management and Budget] convened an interagency working group to estimate the social cost of carbon--the dollar value of the effects of an incremental increase in carbon dioxide emissions in a given year--for assessing regulatory costs and benefits. In 2017, the National Academies recommended updates to the methods used to develop the estimates. Later that year, Executive Order 13783 disbanded the working group, withdrew its guidance, and directed agencies to ensure that, to the extent permitted by law, estimates are consistent with Circular A-4, OMB's general guidance for regulatory analysis. GAO was asked to review approaches for developing and using the estimates. This report examines, among other objectives: (1) how the federal government's current estimates compare to its prior estimates and (2) how the federal government plans to address the recommendations of the National Academies. GAO reviewed executive orders, OMB guidance, and regulatory impact analyses and interviewed OMB, EPA [Environmental Protection Agency], NHTSA [National Highway Traffic Safety Administration], and BLM [Bureau of Land Management] officials and staff who had conducted such analyses."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-06
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Small Business Contracting: Better Documentation and Reporting Needed on Procurement Center Representatives, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Highlights: "The Small Business Act establishes tools to enhance procurement opportunities for small businesses, such as set-asides and requirements that large contractors set goals for using small business subcontractors. SBA's [Small Business Administration] PCRs [procurement center representatives] advocate for the inclusion of small businesses during the procurement process. GAO was asked to examine how PCRs help small businesses gain access to federal contracting and subcontracting opportunities. This report addresses, among other objectives, (1) documentation SBA maintains on the activities of PCRs and (2) how SBA assigns PCRs to cover buying activities and its requirement to report to Congress on these assignments. GAO reviewed SBA policies and procedures, data on PCR assignments, and selected data reported by PCRs and related documentation. GAO also interviewed agency officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-06
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Climate Resilience: Actions Needed to Ensure DOD Considers Climate Risks to Contractors as Part of Acquisition, Supply, and Risk Assessment, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Document: "Since 2010, DOD has identified climate change as a threat to its operations and installations. The department relies on contracted goods and services for its mission and installations. Climate change is projected to have broad effects that could affect DOD's supply chains, and any associated risks to contractors can have an impact on DOD. One way DOD assesses risk to its missions is through mission assurance, which is a process to protect or ensure the function of capabilities and assets critical to its missions. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review potential threats to national security from the effects of climate change on defense contractors. GAO examined the extent to which DOD assesses the potential effects on its operations from climate change and extreme weather risks faced by its contractors through the department's (1) acquisition and supply processes, and (2) mission assurance process. GAO reviewed DOD acquisition, supply, and mission assurance documents and interviewed relevant DOD officials and contractor representatives."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-06
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K-12 Education: School Districts Need Better Information to Help Improve Access for People with Disabilities, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "National reports have raised concerns about the physical accessibility of public school facilities for people with disabilities. These facilities serve important roles as schools, voting locations, and emergency shelters, among other things. GAO was asked to examine the physical accessibility of public school facilities. This report examines the extent to which (1) school districts have school facilities with physical barriers that may limit access for people with disabilities, (2) districts plan to improve the accessibility of school facilities and the challenges they face, and (3) Justice and Education assist districts and states in improving school facilities' physical accessibility. GAO conducted a nationally representative survey of school districts; surveyed states and the District of Columbia; examined 55 schools across six states, selected for variation in size and other characteristics; reviewed relevant federal laws, regulations, and guidance; and interviewed federal, state, and school district officials, and national disability groups."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-06
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Sexual Harassment: Inconsistent and Incomplete Policies and Information Hinder VA's Efforts to Protect Employees, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Highlights: "According to estimates from a recent federal survey, 18 to 27 percent of VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] employees experienced some form of sexual harassment at work from mid-2014 through mid-2016. Sexual harassment negatively affects employees and employers and, if severe or pervasive, can constitute unlawful employment discrimination prohibited by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. GAO was asked to review VA's efforts to prevent and address sexual harassment of its employees. This report examines (1) the extent to which VA has policies to prevent and address sexual harassment, (2) how available data inform VA about sexual harassment, and (3) the extent to which VA provides training to employees on preventing and addressing sexual harassment. GAO reviewed relevant federal laws, regulations, and policy and program documents; analyzed VA complaint data for fiscal years 2014 through 2019 and data from a 2016 federal survey; and interviewed VA officials at headquarters and select facilities across VA, two union officials, and EEOC [Equal Employment Opportunity Commission] officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-06
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Mining on Federal Lands: More Than 800 Operations Authorized to Mine and Total Mineral Production is Unknown
From the Document: "You asked us to review mining on federal lands. This report identifies (1) the number of operations authorized to produce solid minerals on federal lands as of September 30, 2018, and selected characteristics of those operations, and (2) the federal royalties obtained from and quantity of solid minerals produced on federal lands for fiscal year 2018. We also have ongoing work examining hardrock mining systems and stakeholder views of the systems."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05-28
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GAO Audits Involving DOD: Status of DOD's Efforts to Schedule and Hold Timely Entrance Conferences (May 22, 2020)
From the Document: "GAO's [Government Accountability Office] agency protocols govern GAO's relationships with audited entities. These protocols, coordinated with federal agencies including the Department of Defense (DOD), assist GAO in scheduling an entrance conference within 14 calendar days of receiving notice of a new audit. Entrance conferences provide GAO an opportunity to communicate its audit objectives and enable agencies to assign key points of contact to support its work. In past years, DOD has experienced difficulty meeting the protocol target for the timely facilitation of entrance conferences."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05-22
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Infection Control Deficiencies Were Widespread and Persistent in Nursing Homes Prior to COVID-19 Pandemic
From the Document: "In light of the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic, you asked us to examine CMS's [Centers for Medicare & Medicaid] oversight of infection prevention and control protocols and the adequacy of emergency preparedness standards for emerging infectious diseases in nursing homes, as well as CMS's response to the pandemic. This report describes the prevalence of infection prevention and control deficiencies in nursing homes prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Future GAO [Government Accountability Office] reports will examine more broadly infection prevention and control and emergency preparedness in nursing homes and CMS's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including recent actions CMS has announced."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05-20
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Management Report: Improvements Are Needed to Enhance the Internal Revenue Service's Information System Security Controls [May 13, 2020]
From the Document: "In connection with our audit of the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) fiscal years 2019 and 2018 financial statements, we reported that although internal controls could be improved, IRS maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2019, based on criteria established under 31 U.S.C. [United States Code] § 3512(c), (d), commonly known as the Federal Managers' Financial Integrity Act. [...] However, during our fiscal year 2019 audit, we identified new and continuing deficiencies in information system security controls that while not collectively considered a material weakness, were important enough to merit attention by those charged with governance of IRS and therefore represented a significant deficiency in IRS's internal control over its financial reporting systems. [...] This report for IRS management presents the new control deficiencies we identified during our fiscal year 2019 testing of information system security controls that are relevant to IRS's internal control over financial reporting and associated recommendations to address them. The report also includes the results of our follow-up on the status of the agency's corrective actions to address deficiencies in information system security controls and associated recommendations contained in our July 2019 report that remained open as of September 30, 2018."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05-13
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Biomedical Research: HHS Has Not Yet Used New Authorities to Improve Recruitment and Retention of Scientists
From the Document: "The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has cited difficulties in recruiting and retaining individuals in medicine, science, engineering, and other related fields to support its mission. Since 2001, we have designated strategic human capital management as a government-wide high-risk area in part because of the need to address current and emerging skills gaps that are undermining agencies' abilities to meet their missions."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05-08
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Priority Open Recommendations: General Services Administration
From the Document: "The purpose of this letter is to provide an update on the overall status of the General Services Administration's (GSA) implementation of GAO's [Government Accountability Office] recommendations and to call your personal attention to open recommendations that deserve high priority. In November 2019, we reported that, on a government-wide basis, 77 percent of our recommendations made 5 years ago were implemented. GSA implemented all 15 of the recommendations we made to GSA in fiscal year 2015. As of April 2020, GSA had 67 open recommendations. Fully implementing all of these recommendations could significantly improve GSA's operations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05-06
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Priority Open Recommendations: Department of Defense [May 4, 2020]
From the Document: "The purpose of this letter is to provide an update on the overall status of the Department of Defense's (DOD) implementation of GAO's [Government Accountability Office] recommendations and to call DOD's continued attention to areas in which open recommendations should be given high priority. Many of the recommendations in this letter directly address key challenges--such as rebuilding readiness, mitigating cyber threats, and controlling costs--that significantly affect DOD's ability to accomplish its mission."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05-04
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Private Citizens' Involvement in Decision-Making at the Department of Veterans Affairs: Information on the Purpose, Scope, and Time Frames of Interactions Between 2016 and 2018
From the Document: "With a budget of $201.1 billion in fiscal year 2019, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides benefits to veterans, including various types of financial assistance, burial services, and health care to more than 9 million veterans. In managing and overseeing its complex activities, VA has faced longstanding challenges, including providing veterans with timely access to health care, managing and overseeing its information technology acquisitions, and maintaining leadership stability in its top personnel positions. VA has undertaken various efforts to address these challenges, such as awarding a contract to acquire a commercial electronic health record system in 2018. As part of such efforts, VA may solicit input from entities including federal advisory committees and veterans service organizations (VSO) as well as from private citizens--individuals not employed by a federal agency."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05-04
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Foreign Military Sales: DOD Should Further Strengthen Financial Oversight of Transportation Fees, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "From fiscal years 2007 to 2018, DOD collected about $2.3 billion in fees into the FMS [Foreign Military Sales] transportation accounts and expended about $1.9 billion from the accounts. Foreign partners can pay DOD a fee to cover the costs of DOD transporting items. Fees are collected into transportation accounts in the FMS Trust Fund, and expenditures for related transportation are paid from those accounts. DSCA [Defense Security Cooperation Agency] is responsible for financial oversight of the accounts, and DFAS [Defense Finance and Accounting Service]--a service provider to DSCA-- also has some accounting responsibilities related to the accounts. House Report 114-537 and Senate Report 114-255 included provisions that GAO [Government Accountability Office] review DSCA's management of FMS fees. This report examines (1) DSCA's oversight of DOD components' activities that affect fees collected into the FMS transportation accounts, and (2) DSCA's financial oversight of expenditures from the FMS transportation accounts."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05
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Employment-Related Identity Fraud: Improved Collaboration and Other Actions Would Help IRS and SSA Address Risks, Report to the Committee on Finance, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "Employment-related identity fraud poses risks to IRS's [Internal Revenue Service] ability to collect taxes owed on wages and to SSA's [Social Security Administration] ability to correctly calculate and manage Social Security benefits. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review employment-related identity fraud. This report examines (1) the potential scope of employment-related identity fraud, including what IRS knows about this type of fraud and what GAO could determine by analyzing Department of Health and Human Services' National Directory of New Hires (NDNH) and IRS data; (2) SSA and IRS actions to detect and deter this fraud as well as notify victims; and (3) SSA and IRS's collaboration on the issue."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05
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FEMA Disaster Workforce: Actions Needed to Address Deployment and Staff Development Challenges, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "During the 2017 and 2018 disaster seasons, several large-scale disasters created an unprecedented demand for FEMA's workforce. FEMA deployed 14,684 and 10,328 personnel at the peak of each of these seasons and reported staffing shortages during the disasters. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review issues related to the federal response to the 2017 disaster season. This report addresses (1) how FEMA's disaster workforce is qualified and deployed, (2) how effective FEMA's qualification and deployment processes were during the 2017 and 2018 disaster seasons in ensuring workforce needs were met in the field, and (3) the extent to which FEMA's disaster workforce receives staff development to enhance skills and competencies."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05
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National Flood Insurance Program: FEMA Can Improve Community Oversight and Data Sharing, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "NFIP's [National Flood Insurance Program] effectiveness depends in part on communities implementing FEMA requirements on floodplain management and post-disaster rebuilding efforts. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to undertake a comprehensive evaluation of federal disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. This report examines (1) requirements NFIP communities must meet and challenges they face, (2) FEMA's use of community visits to ensure compliance, and (3) how FEMA oversees community implementation of NFIP requirements for conducting substantial damage assessments."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05
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National Preparedness Additional Actions Needed to Address Gaps in the Nation's Emergency Management Capabilities, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Document: "FEMA uses the National Preparedness System to help assess the nation's emergency management capabilities in preparing for disasters and, in part, to help prioritize federal preparedness grants it provides to state and local jurisdictions. Since 2002, FEMA has provided over $52 billion in such grants intended to enhance preparedness capabilities. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to examine national preparedness. This report examines the extent to which: (1) FEMA's National Preparedness System and associated preparedness grants have assisted jurisdictions in preparing for disasters; (2) FEMA has strengthened the National Preparedness System and what steps remain; and (3) FEMA is using after-action reports to identify lessons learned and strengthen future preparedness. GAO evaluated agency guidance, analyzed 2013 to 2017 capability data--the most current available; conducted site visits to five states; and interviewed FEMA, state, and local emergency management officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05
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U.S. Postal Service: Congressional Action is Essential to Enable a Sustainable Business Model, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Document: "An independent establishment of the executive branch, USPS [U.S. Postal Service] is required to provide prompt, reliable, and efficient services to the public. While USPS is to be self-sustaining, it lost about $78 billion from fiscal years 2007 through 2019 due primarily to declining mail volumes and increased costs. Given USPS's poor financial condition, in 2009 GAO [Government Accountability Office] identified USPS's financial viability as a high-risk area, a designation it retains today. GAO was asked to explore issues related the transformation of USPS and potential implications for stakeholders. This report (1) examines major challenges facing USPS, (2) identifies how selected domestic businesses and foreign posts reportedly have addressed serious challenges, (3) examines critical foundational elements of USPS's current business model, and (4) identifies key previously issued GAO matters for congressional consideration regarding USPS and actions taken in response."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05
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Poverty Reduction: HHS Can Improve Information to Assist States and Localities in Adopting Approaches That Serve Whole Families, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Document: "In 2018, nearly one in six children in the United States lived in families with incomes below the federal poverty thresholds, or about $26,000 annually for a family of four. Research has shown that poverty is associated with negative outcomes for the entire family. State and local entities are currently using two-generation, or whole family, approaches to reduce poverty and move families towards economic self-sufficiency. Senate Committee Report 115-150 included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review two-generation approaches. GAO examined (1) the primary federal programs that support two-generation approaches and how these programs were leveraged by selected state and local entities, and (2) the challenges selected state and local entities faced implementing two-generation approaches and steps federal agencies have taken to address those challenges. GAO reviewed relevant federal, state, and local agency documentation; and interviewed officials from five federal agencies, and from 23 state and local entities in five states. States were selected to achieve variation in approaches used and percentage of families with children in poverty, among other factors."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05
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DHS Service Contracts: Increased Oversight Needed to Reduce the Risk Associated with Contractors Performing Certain Functions, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Document: "DHS's spending on services--such as guard services and technology support--represents over 75 percent of its annual contract obligations. The Office of Management and Budget has recognized that some service contracts require extra management attention because they pose a risk that the government could lose control of its decisions or operations. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review DHS's use of and planning for service contracts. This report addresses, among other objectives, the extent to which DHS and selected components and offices use, oversee, and budget for service contracts. GAO analyzed Federal Procurement Data System-Next Generation data from fiscal years 2013 through 2018; selected non-generalizable samples of four components with high service contract obligations and eight service contracts requiring heightened management attention; and interviewed DHS officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05
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2020 Census: Update on the Census Bureau's Implementation of Partnership and Outreach Activities, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "The decennial census is used to apportion seats in Congress, redraw congressional districts, and allocate hundreds of billions of dollars in federal assistance annually and helps to guide public policy decisions based on social, economic, and demographic data. While recent censuses appear to have been increasingly accurate, measurement errors are not evenly distributed across the population. Given the uses of census data, ensuring an accurate count is important. As part of its partnership and outreach efforts, the U.S. Census Bureau's (Bureau) Partnership Program works with local and national organizations, businesses, and governments to promote awareness of and participation in the census, as well as to help recruit census workers. GAO was asked to review the Bureau's partnership and outreach efforts, including paid advertising and targeted communications. This report examines the Bureau's progress in addressing selected prior census challenges in these areas. GAO reviewed relevant Bureau planning documentation, collected regular Bureau reports on progress, and interviewed Bureau officials responsible for partnership and outreach efforts."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05
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Science & Tech Spotlight: Social Distancing During Pandemics
From the Document: "Infectious diseases like COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] can spread rapidly from person to person. Social distancing saves lives by slowing disease transmission and reducing the load on the health care system. The scientific research regarding effective social distancing practices continues to evolve. [...] Social distancing, also known as physical distancing, is the practice of maintaining physical distance from others and avoiding large gatherings, with the intent of reducing the rate of transmission of infectious diseases. COVID-19 has brought social distancing practices to the forefront worldwide as a means of controlling local spread of the disease. [...] Practicing social distancing reduces the rate of new infections by limiting person-to-person transmission. This in turn can 'flatten the curve,' by reducing the peak number of patients to levels the health care system can better manage, ultimately saving lives."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05
