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Epidemic interventions: insights from classic results.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Type

Article

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Authors

Gog, Julia R 
Hollingsworth, T Déirdre 

Abstract

Analytical expressions and approximations from simple models have performed a pivotal role in our understanding of infectious disease epidemiology. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, while there has been proliferation of increasingly complex models, still the most basic models have provided the core framework for our thinking and interpreting policy decisions. Here, classic results are presented that give insights into both the role of transmission-reducing interventions (such as social distancing) in controlling an emerging epidemic, and also what would happen if insufficient control is applied. Though these are simple results from the most basic of epidemic models, they give valuable benchmarks for comparison with the outputs of more complex modelling approaches. This article is part of the theme issue 'Modelling that shaped the early COVID-19 pandemic response in the UK'.

Description

Keywords

SIR model, epidemic, non-pharmacutical interventions, pandemic, COVID-19, Humans, Models, Theoretical, Pandemics, Physical Distancing, SARS-CoV-2, Travel, United Kingdom

Journal Title

Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0962-8436
1471-2970

Volume Title

376

Publisher

The Royal Society
Sponsorship
MRC (via University of Warwick) (MR/V038613/1)