November 3, 2020

Cost–Benefit of Limited Isolation and Testing in COVID-19 Mitigation

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Modeling and Prediction

Keywords (Tags): modeling prediction, non-pharm interventions

A study using an agent-based disease transmission model examined the costs and benefits of replacing lockdowns with a one-step tracing and quarantine strategy. This strategy of closing workplaces when a case is identified, isolating social contacts of the case, and keeping symptomatic individuals in quarantine until symptoms resolve (estimated at 5 days) reduces transmission by 50%, while costing fewer lost workdays than an overall lockdown, assuming that the daily probability of testing is only 10%.

Eilersen and Sneppen. (Oct 29, 2020). Cost–Benefit of Limited Isolation and Testing in COVID-19 Mitigation. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-75640-2