Simple mathematical models for controlling COVID-19 transmission through social distancing and community awareness

TL;DR

This paper uses simple mathematical models to analyze how social distancing and community awareness can effectively control COVID-19 transmission, even without a vaccine, by examining homogeneous and nonhomogeneous populations and network simulations.

Contribution

It introduces mathematical models that incorporate social distancing and awareness to evaluate COVID-19 control strategies in different population structures.

Findings

Social distancing reduces COVID-19 transmission effectively.

Community awareness significantly aids in eradicating the virus.

Social distancing can control COVID-19 without a vaccine.

Abstract

The novel COVID-19 pandemic is a current, major global health threat. Up till now, there is no fully approved pharmacological treatment or a vaccine. In this study, simple mathematical models were employed to examine the dynamics of transmission and control of COVID-19 taking into consideration social distancing and community awareness. Both situations of homogeneous and nonhomogeneous population were considered. Based on the calculations, a sufficient degree of social distancing based on its reproductive ratio is found to be effective in controlling COVID-19, even in the absence of a vaccine. With a vaccine, social distancing minimizes the sufficient vaccination rate to control the disease. Community awareness also has a great impact in eradicating the virus transmission. The model is simulated on small-world networks and the role of social distancing in controlling the infection is explained.