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Chapter 12 - Testing Strategies to Mitigate COVID-19 Disease Spread

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 January 2024

By
Paul Tessier  and
Anette E. Hosoi
Edited by
Steven C. Schachter  and
Wade E. Bolton
Steven C. Schachter
Affiliation:
Harvard Medical School
Wade E. Bolton
Affiliation:
VentureWell/Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx)
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Summary

The expansion of COVID-19 diagnostic testing across the USA was – and continues to be – essential to slowing and preventing the spread of COVID-19. This chapter summarizes the efforts of the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx®) Tech team to (1) provide science-based outputs to assess and guide specific mitigation and testing strategies, (2) demonstrate how COVID-19 prevention and containment efforts can most effectively be combined with the latest testing strategies to minimize the spread of the virus in a semi-contained population, and (3) deliver personal recommendations based on how likely an individual is to get COVID-19 and spread it to other people. Details are provided on a data-driven model to mitigate disease spread that is based on a simple counting exercise known in different disciplines as a control volume approach or queueing theory. The effects of social distancing, mask wearing, vaccination, and contact tracing on disease spread and testing requirements are explored. The US government public policy effect on testing is also discussed.

Keywords

testing strategyCOVID-19 spread mitigationWhen To Test calculatorbioinformatic modelingdiagnostic toolscontrol volume approachqueueing theoryWorkplace Testing Planner
Type
Chapter
Information
Accelerating Diagnostics in a Time of Crisis
The Response to COVID-19 and a Roadmap for Future Pandemics
 , pp. 236 - 249
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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References

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