The benefits and costs of social distancing in high- and low-income countries.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Widespread social distancing and lockdowns of everyday activity have been the primary policy prescription across many countries throughout the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Despite their uniformity, these measures may be differentially valuable for different countries.

Methods

We use a compartmental epidemiological model to project the spread of COVID-19 across policy scenarios in high- and low-income countries. We embed estimates of the welfare value of disease avoidance into the epidemiological projections to estimate the return to more stringent lockdown policies.

Results

Social distancing measures that 'flatten the curve' of the disease provide immense welfare value in upper-income countries. However, social distancing policies deliver s

SUBMITTER: Barnett-Howell Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7928561 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature