Determining the best mathematical model for implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions

At the onset of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in early 2020, only non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) were available to stem the spread of the infection. Much of the early interventions in the US were applied at a state level, with varying levels of strictness and compliance. While NPIs clearly slowed...

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Main Authors: Gabriel McCarthy, Hana M. Dobrovolny
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AIMS Press 2025-03-01
Series:Mathematical Biosciences and Engineering
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Online Access:https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/mbe.2025026
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author Gabriel McCarthy
Hana M. Dobrovolny
author_facet Gabriel McCarthy
Hana M. Dobrovolny
author_sort Gabriel McCarthy
collection DOAJ
description At the onset of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in early 2020, only non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) were available to stem the spread of the infection. Much of the early interventions in the US were applied at a state level, with varying levels of strictness and compliance. While NPIs clearly slowed the rate of transmission, it is not clear how these changes are best incorporated into epidemiological models. In order to characterize the effects of early preventative measures, we use a Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovered (SEIR) model and cumulative case counts from US states to analyze the effect of lockdown measures. We test four transition models to simulate the change in transmission rate: instantaneous, linear, exponential, and logarithmic. We find that of the four models examined here, the exponential transition best represents the change in the transmission rate due to implementation of NPIs in the most states, followed by the logistic transition model. The instantaneous and linear models generally lead to poor fits and are the best transition models for the fewest states.
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spelling doaj-art-7dd90b147bd14f40929bb4c4ce3105dc2025-08-20T02:08:20ZengAIMS PressMathematical Biosciences and Engineering1551-00182025-03-0122370072410.3934/mbe.2025026Determining the best mathematical model for implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventionsGabriel McCarthy0Hana M. Dobrovolny1Department of Physics & Astronomy, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX 76109, USADepartment of Physics & Astronomy, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX 76109, USAAt the onset of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in early 2020, only non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) were available to stem the spread of the infection. Much of the early interventions in the US were applied at a state level, with varying levels of strictness and compliance. While NPIs clearly slowed the rate of transmission, it is not clear how these changes are best incorporated into epidemiological models. In order to characterize the effects of early preventative measures, we use a Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovered (SEIR) model and cumulative case counts from US states to analyze the effect of lockdown measures. We test four transition models to simulate the change in transmission rate: instantaneous, linear, exponential, and logarithmic. We find that of the four models examined here, the exponential transition best represents the change in the transmission rate due to implementation of NPIs in the most states, followed by the logistic transition model. The instantaneous and linear models generally lead to poor fits and are the best transition models for the fewest states.https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/mbe.2025026mathematical modelnon-pharmaceutical interventionssocial distancinginfectious diseasesmaskinglockdown
spellingShingle Gabriel McCarthy
Hana M. Dobrovolny
Determining the best mathematical model for implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions
Mathematical Biosciences and Engineering
mathematical model
non-pharmaceutical interventions
social distancing
infectious diseases
masking
lockdown
title Determining the best mathematical model for implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions
title_full Determining the best mathematical model for implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions
title_fullStr Determining the best mathematical model for implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions
title_full_unstemmed Determining the best mathematical model for implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions
title_short Determining the best mathematical model for implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions
title_sort determining the best mathematical model for implementation of non pharmaceutical interventions
topic mathematical model
non-pharmaceutical interventions
social distancing
infectious diseases
masking
lockdown
url https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/mbe.2025026
work_keys_str_mv AT gabrielmccarthy determiningthebestmathematicalmodelforimplementationofnonpharmaceuticalinterventions
AT hanamdobrovolny determiningthebestmathematicalmodelforimplementationofnonpharmaceuticalinterventions