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arXiv · 2005.12634

Optimal Responses to an Infectious Disease

Evangelos Magirou
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Abstract

We analyze an optimal control version of a simple SIRS epidemiology model. The policy maker can adopt policies to diminish the contact rate between infected and susceptible individuals, at a specific economic cost. The arrival of a vaccine will immediately end the epidemic. Total or partial immunity is modeled, while the contact rate can exhibit a (user specified) seasonality. The problem is solved in a spreadsheet environment. A reasonable parameter selection leads to optimal policies which are similar to those followed by different countries. A mild response relying on eventually reaching a high immunity level is optimal if ample health facilities are available. On the other hand limited health care facilities lead to strict lock downs while moderate ones allow a flattening of the curve approach.

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Evangelos Magirou. 2020-06-08. Optimal Responses to an Infectious Disease. https://doi.org/10.13140/rg.2.2.35776.97282

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