June 25, 2020

Modeling Quarantine during Epidemics and Mass-Testing Using Drones

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Modeling and Prediction

• Sedov et al. incorporate quarantining into a traditional Susceptible-Infected-Recovered (SIR) model and explore the potential of using drones to deliver tests. Using a medium-sized city (about 100,000 people) in Sweden, the investigators found that the model predicts a substantial decrease in peak number of infected people without increasing the duration of the epidemic. The number of days needed to collect tests from the whole population was dependent on the size of the drone fleet and number of tests that can be loaded onto one drone. 

Sedov et al. (June 24, 2020). Modeling Quarantine during Epidemics and Mass-Testing Using Drones. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0235307