scholarly journals Balancing costs and benefits of pandemic control in an outbreak phase

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsuyoshi Hondou
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Herd Immunity ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Economic Effects ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Infected Population ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Previous State ◽  
Applicable Knowledge

Abstract After the first lockdowns in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, many countries faced difficulties in balancing infection control with economics. Due to limited prior knowledge1), economists began researching this issue2, 3, 4, 5, 6) using cost-benefit analysis7, 8) and found that infection control processes significantly affect economic efficiency. Rowthorn and Maciejowski2, 4) used economic parameters in the United Kingdom to numerically demonstrate that an optimal balance was found in the process, including keeping the infected population stationary. However, universally applicable knowledge, which is indispensable for guiding principles of infection control, has not yet been developed because these analyses assume regional parameters and a specific disease. Here, we prove the universal result of economic irreversibility by applying the idea of thermodynamics to pandemic control. It means that delaying infection control measures is more expensive than implementing infection control measures early while keeping infected populations stationary. This means that once the infected population increases, society cannot return to its previous state without extra expenditures. This universal result is analytically obtained by focusing on the infection-spreading phase of pandemics, which is not only applicable to COVID-19 and whether or not ‘herd immunity’ exists11, 12). It also confirms the numerical observation of stationary infected populations in its optimally efficient process2, 4). Our findings suggest that economic irreversibility is a guiding principle for balancing infection control with economic effects.

scholarly journals Balancing costs and benefits of pandemic control in an outbreak phase

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsuyoshi Hondou
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Herd Immunity ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Economic Effects ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Infected Population ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Previous State ◽  
Applicable Knowledge

Abstract After the first lockdowns in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, many countries faced difficulties in balancing infection control with economics. Due to limited prior knowledge, economists began researching this issue using cost-benefit analysis and found that infection control processes significantly affect economic efficiency. Rowthorn and Maciejowski [R. Rowthorn and J.A. Maciejowski, Oxford Rev. Econ. Policy 36, S38 (2020)] used economic parameters in the United Kingdom to numerically demonstrate that an optimal balance was found in the process, including keeping the infected population stationary. However, universally applicable knowledge, which is indispensable for the guiding principles of infection control, has not yet been developed because these analyses assume regional parameters and a specific disease. Here, we prove the universal result of economic irreversibility by applying the idea of thermodynamics to pandemic control. It means that delaying infection control measures is more expensive than implementing infection control measures early while keeping infected populations stationary. This implies that once the infected population increases, society cannot return to its previous state without extra expenditures. This universal result is analytically obtained by focusing on the infection-spreading phase of pandemics, which is applicable not only to COVID-19, and whether or not “herd immunity” exists. It also confirms the numerical observation of stationary infected populations in its optimally efficient process. Our findings suggest that economic irreversibility is a guiding principle for balancing infection control with economic effects.

scholarly journals Balancing costs and benefits of pandemic control in an outbreak phase

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsuyoshi Hondou
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Herd Immunity ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Economic Effects ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Infected Population ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Previous State ◽  
Applicable Knowledge

Abstract After the first lockdowns in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, many countries faced difficulties in balancing infection control with economics. Due to limited prior knowledge1), economists began researching this issue2, 3, 4, 5, 6) using cost-benefit analysis7, 8) and found that infection control processes significantly affect economic efficiency. Rowthorn and Maciejowski2, 4) used economic parameters in the United Kingdom to numerically demonstrate that an optimal balance was found in the process, including keeping the infected population stationary. However, universally applicable knowledge, which is indispensable for guiding principles of infection control, has not yet been developed because these analyses assume regional parameters and a specific disease. Here, we prove the universal result of economic irreversibility by applying the idea of thermodynamics to pandemic control. It means that delaying infection control measures is more expensive than implementing infection control measures early while keeping infected populations stationary. This means that once the infected population increases, society cannot return to its previous state without extra expenditures. This universal result is analytically obtained by focusing on the infection-spreading phase of pandemics, which is not only applicable to COVID-19 and whether or not ‘herd immunity’ exists11, 12). It also confirms the numerical observation of stationary infected populations in its optimally efficient process2, 4). Our findings suggest that economic irreversibility is a guiding principle for balancing infection control with economic effects.

scholarly journals Balancing costs and benefits of pandemic control in an outbreak phase

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsuyoshi Hondou
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Herd Immunity ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Economic Effects ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Infected Population ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Previous State ◽  
Applicable Knowledge

Abstract After the first lockdowns in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, many countries faced difficulties in balancing infection control with economics. Because there was limited prior knowledge, economists began researching this issue using cost-benefit analysis and found that infection control processes significantly affect economic efficiency. Rowthorn and Maciejowski used economic parameters in the United Kingdom to numerically demonstrate that an optimal balance was found in the process, including keeping the infected population stationary. However, universally applicable knowledge, which is indispensable for guiding principles of infection control, has not yet been developed because these analyses assume regional parameters and a specific disease. Here, we prove the universal result of economic irreversibility, which means that delaying infection control measures is more expensive than implementing infection control measures early while keeping infected populations stationary. This means that once the infected population increases, society cannot return to its previous state without extra expenditures. This universal result is analytically obtained by focusing on the infection-spreading phase of pandemics, which is not only applicable to COVID-19, and whether or not `herd immunity' exists. It also confirms the numerical observation of stationary infected populations in its optimally efficient process. Our findings suggest that economic irreversibility is a guiding principle for balancing infection control with economic effects.

scholarly journals Twitter Speaks: An Analysis of Australian Twitter Users' Topics And Sentiments About COVID-19 Vaccination Using Machine Learning (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Wai Hang Kwok ◽  
Sai Kumar Vadde ◽  
Guanjin Wang
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Public Opinion ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Herd Immunity ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
The Novel ◽  
The Public ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Twitter Users ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

BACKGROUND The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is one of the greatest threats to human beings in terms of healthcare, economy and society in recent history. Up to this moment, there are no signs of remission and there is no proven effective cure. The vaccine is the primary biomedical preventive measure against the novel coronavirus. However, the public bias or sentiments, as reflected on social media, may have a significant impact on the progress to achieve the herd immunity needed principally. OBJECTIVE This study aims to use machine learning methods to extract public topics and sentiments on the COVID-19 vaccination on Twitter. METHODS We collected 31,100 English tweets containing COVID-19 vaccine-related keywords between January and October 2020 from Australian Twitter users. Specifically, we analyzed the tweets by visualizing the high-frequency word clouds and correlations between word tokens. We built the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) topic model to identify the commonly discussed topics from massive tweets. We also performed sentiment analysis to understand the overall sentiments and emotions on COVID-19 vaccination in Australian society. RESULTS Our analysis identified three LDA topics, including "Attitudes towards COVID-19 and its vaccination", "Advocating infection control measures against COVID-19", and "Misconceptions and complaints about COVID-19 control". In all tweets, nearly two-thirds of the sentiments were positive, and around one-third were negative in the public opinion about the COVID-19 vaccine. Among the eight basic emotions, "trust" and "anticipation" were the two prominent positive emotions, while "fear" was the top negative emotion in the tweets. CONCLUSIONS Our new findings indicate that some Australian Twitter users supported infection control measures against COVID-19 and would refute misinformation. However, the others who underestimated the risks and severity of COVID-19 would probably rationalize their position on the COVID-19 vaccine with certain conspiracy theories. It is also noticed that the level of positive sentiment in the public may not be enough to further a vaccination coverage which would be sufficient to achieve vaccination-induced herd immunity. Governments should explore the public opinion and sentiments towards COVID-19 and its vaccination and implement an effective vaccination promotion scheme besides supporting the development and clinical administration of COVID-19 vaccines.

Eye in COVID-19: A Brief Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Mohsin Ali ◽  
Qudsia Anwar Dar ◽  
Zahid Kamal ◽  
Alishba Khan
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Respiratory Symptoms ◽  
Literature Search ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Transmission Route ◽  
Ocular Manifestation ◽  
Personal Protection ◽  
Personal Protection Equipment ◽  
Ocular Manifestations ◽  
Infection Control Measures

This is a brief review covering the currently available literature on ocular manifestations of COVID-19, andprevention strategies for ophthalmologists. A literature search was carried out of Pubmed, Google Scholar andWHO database of publications on COVID. Keywords used in the search were eye, ocular manifestations,ophthalmology, COVID-19, nCoV-2019, and coronavirus disease. All available articles were reviewed and thosepertinent to the study topic were included. Considering the dearth of information available, ophthalmology journals were also searched separately for relevant articles. Major ocular manifestation of COVID reported in literature is red eye, which usually presents before the onset of respiratory symptoms. Since the eye can be a possible transmission route for SARS-CoV-2, infection control measures should be undertaken by ophthalmologists, including use of personal protection equipment and eye/face covering. A framework for structuring ophthalmological services during the COVID pandemic is also presented in this review.

What's it Worth? Improving Surface Water Quality

1999 ◽  
Vol 40 (10) ◽  
pp. 153-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. H. Newsome ◽  
C. D. Stephen
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Surface Water Quality ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Benefit Analysis ◽  
The Cost

Many countries are investing in measures to improve surface water quality, but the investment programmes for so doing are increasingly becoming subject to cost-benefit analysis. Whilst the cost of control measures can usually be determined for individual improvement schemes, there are currently no established procedures for valuing the benefits attributable to improved surface water quality. The paper describes a methodology that has been derived that now makes this possible.

scholarly journals Estimating the consequences of a COVID-19 super spreader: A stochastic model of a night on the town

2021 ◽  
pp. 140349482110314
Author(s):  
Nils Henrik Kolnes ◽  
Snorre Nilsen Eikeland ◽  
Tor Albert Ersdal ◽  
Geir Sverre Braut
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Stochastic Model ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Local Municipality ◽  
The Town

A stochastic model estimated the consequences of a COVID-19 super spreader event occurring in the local municipality of Stavanger, Norway as a result of a night on the town. The model imposed different infection control regulations and compared these different scenarios. For Stavanger’s 161 locations of service, secondary transmissions from a super spreader event was estimated to infect a median of 37, requiring the quarantining of 200 guests given no infection control regulations, 23 and 167 when imposing social distancing regulations and other hygienic infection control measures, 7 infected and 63 quarantined guests with restrictions placed on the guest capacity, and 4 infected and 57 quarantined guests with both forms of restriction in use.

scholarly journals Can Copper Products and Surfaces Reduce the Spread of Infectious Microorganisms and Hospital-Acquired Infections?

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (13) ◽  
pp. 3444
Author(s):  
Joji Abraham ◽  
Kim Dowling ◽  
Singarayer Florentine
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Copper Alloys ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Traditional Use ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Infection Control Measures

Pathogen transfer and infection in the built environment are globally significant events, leading to the spread of disease and an increase in subsequent morbidity and mortality rates. There are numerous strategies followed in healthcare facilities to minimize pathogen transfer, but complete infection control has not, as yet, been achieved. However, based on traditional use in many cultures, the introduction of copper products and surfaces to significantly and positively retard pathogen transmission invites further investigation. For example, many microbes are rendered unviable upon contact exposure to copper or copper alloys, either immediately or within a short time. In addition, many disease-causing bacteria such as E. coli O157:H7, hospital superbugs, and several viruses (including SARS-CoV-2) are also susceptible to exposure to copper surfaces. It is thus suggested that replacing common touch surfaces in healthcare facilities, food industries, and public places (including public transport) with copper or alloys of copper may substantially contribute to limiting transmission. Subsequent hospital admissions and mortality rates will consequently be lowered, with a concomitant saving of lives and considerable levels of resources. This consideration is very significant in times of the COVID-19 pandemic and the upcoming epidemics, as it is becoming clear that all forms of possible infection control measures should be practiced in order to protect community well-being and promote healthy outcomes.

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