Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

March 18, 2020

Demographic science aids in understanding the spread and fatality rates of COVID-19

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  • Dowd et al used demographic projections of age-specific COVID-19 fatalities in Italy and South Korea to illustrate the effect of age structure on mortality in countries with similar sized populations but different age structures. 
  • The study suggests that demographically informed projections will better predict the COVID-19 burden, help inform policy-making and government targeted action (e.g. finding childcare solutions to avoid inadvertently bringing children and grandparents in closer contact due to school closures). 

Dowd et al. (March 18, 2020). Demographic science aids in understanding the spread and fatality rates of COVID-19. Pre-print downloaded Mar 18 from https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.03.15.20036293