City-Scale Agent-Based Simulators for the Study of Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions in the Context of the COVID-19 Epidemic

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the effectiveness of city-scale agent-based simulators in evaluating non-pharmaceutical interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic, using case studies from Bengaluru and Mumbai.

Contribution

It introduces the application of detailed city-scale simulators for pandemic response planning, emphasizing their role in digital health strategies.

Findings

Simulators effectively model COVID-19 spread in urban environments.

Case studies show potential for policy testing and decision support.

Highlights the importance of digital tools in public health management.

Abstract

We highlight the usefulness of city-scale agent-based simulators in studying various non-pharmaceutical interventions to manage an evolving pandemic. We ground our studies in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and demonstrate the power of the simulator via several exploratory case studies in two metropolises, Bengaluru and Mumbai. Such tools become common-place in any city administration's tool kit in our march towards digital health.