Final answer:
During the containment phase of the public health response to SARS-CoV-2 in the U.S., measures included social distancing, contact tracing, stay-at-home orders, and facemasks for healthcare workers, although there were issues with inconsistent messaging and implementation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The actions taken in the United States during the containment phase of the public health response to SARS-CoV-2 included a variety of measures. These measures aimed at slowing down the spread of the virus included A. Social distancing, which encompassed maintaining physical distance from others and avoiding large gatherings; B. Contact tracing, which involved identifying and following up with individuals who may have been exposed to the virus; C.
Stay-at-home orders, with 43 states issuing directives that required residents to limit their movement and stay home except for essential activities; and D. Universal facemasks for health care workers, which were recommended to protect those on the front lines of combating the pandemic.
Each of these actions played a critical role in trying to manage the spread of COVID-19, despite various challenges such as mixed messaging on mask use and differences in the implementation of guidelines across states.