Maximising the Benefits of an Acutely Limited Number of COVID-19 Tests

• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2004.13650
• Publication Date: 2020-01-01
• Authors: Jakob Jonnerby; Philip Lazos; Edwin Lock; Francisco J. Marm...; Christopher Bronk...; Meghana Shukla; Divya Sridhar
• Keywords: Containment (computer programming); Pandemic; Group testing; Test strategy

We propose a novel testing and containment strategy in order to contain the spread of SARS-CoV2 while permitting large parts population resume social economic activity. Our approach recognises fact that capacities are severely constrained many countries. In this setting, we show finding best way utilise limited number tests during pandemic can be formulated concisely as an allocation problem. problem formulation takes into account heterogeneity uses pooled identify isolate individuals prioritising key workers with higher risk spreading disease. demonstrate efficacy our mechanism, perform simulations using network-based SIR model. indicate applying mechanism on $100,000$ only $16$ per day reduces peak infected by approximately $20\%$, when compared scenario where no intervention is implemented.