OBJECTIVES: to describe and compare the effectiveness of national and local lockdowns in controlling the spread of COVID-19. METHODS: a rapid review of published and grey literature on COVID-19 pandemic was conducted following predefined eligibility criteria by searching electronic databases, repositories of pre-print articles, websites and databases of international health, and research related institutions and organisations. RESULTS: of 584 initially identified records up to 5 July 2020, 19 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Most of the studies (No. 11) used the reproduction  number (Rt) as a measure of effect and in all of them areduction of the estimated value at post-intervention period was found. The implementation of  lockdown in 11 European countries was associated with an average 82% reduction of Rt, ranging from a  posterior Rt of 0.44 (95%CI 0.26-0.61) for Norway to a posterior Rt of 0.82 (95%CI 0.73- 0.93) for  Belgium. Changes in infection rates and transmission rates were estimated in 8 studies. Daily changes in  infection rates ranged from -0.6% (Sweden) to -11.3% (Hubei and Guangdong provinces). Additionally, other  studies reported a change in the trend of hospitalizations (Italy, Spain) and positive effects on the  doubling time of cases (Hubei, China) after lockdown. CONCLUSIONS: results of this rapid review suggest a  positive effect of the containment measures on the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, with a major effect in  countries where lockdown started early and was more restrictive. Rigorous research is warranted to evaluate  which approach is the most effective in each stage of the epidemic and in specific social contexts, in particular addressing if these approaches should be implemented on the whole population or target specific risk groups.