The Signature Features of COVID‐19 Pandemic in a Hybrid Mathematical Model—Implications for Optimal Work–School Lockdown Policy

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Abstract

The new COVID‐19 pandemic has challenged policymakers on key issues. Most countries have adopted “lockdown” policies to reduce the spatial spread of COVID‐19, but they have damaged the economic and moral fabric of society. Mathematical modeling in non‐pharmaceutical intervention policy management has proven to be a major weapon in this fight due to the lack of an effective COVID‐19 vaccine. A new hybrid model for COVID‐19 dynamics using both an age‐structured mathematical model based on the SIRD model and spatio‐temporal model in silico is presented, analyzing the data of COVID‐19 in Israel. Using the hybrid model, a method for estimating the reproduction number of an epidemic in real‐time from the data of daily notification of cases is introduced. The results of the proposed model are confirmed by the Israeli Lockdown experience with a mean square error of 0.205 over 2 weeks. The use of mathematical models promises to reduce the uncertainty in the choice of “Lockdown” policies. The unique use of contact details from 2 classes (children and adults), the interaction of populations depending on the time of day, and several physical locations, allow a new look at the differential dynamics of the spread and control of infection.

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  1. SciScore for 10.1101/2020.11.02.20224584: (What is this?)

    Please note, not all rigor criteria are appropriate for all manuscripts.

    Table 1: Rigor

    Institutional Review Board Statementnot detected.
    Randomizationnot detected.
    Blindingnot detected.
    Power Analysisnot detected.
    Sex as a biological variablenot detected.

    Table 2: Resources

    No key resources detected.


    Results from OddPub: We did not detect open data. We also did not detect open code. Researchers are encouraged to share open data when possible (see Nature blog).


    Results from LimitationRecognizer: An explicit section about the limitations of the techniques employed in this study was not found. We encourage authors to address study limitations.

    Results from TrialIdentifier: No clinical trial numbers were referenced.


    Results from Barzooka: We did not find any issues relating to the usage of bar graphs.


    Results from JetFighter: We did not find any issues relating to colormaps.


    Results from rtransparent:
    • Thank you for including a conflict of interest statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • Thank you for including a funding statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • No protocol registration statement was detected.

    About SciScore

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