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Indirect Virus Transmission via Fomites Can Counteract Lock-Down Effectiveness

Author

Listed:
  • Torsten Thalheim

    (Interdisciplinary Centre for Bioinformatics (IZBI), Leipzig University, Haertelstr. 16-18, 04107 Leipzig, Germany)

  • Tyll Krüger

    (Institute of Computer Engineering, Control and Robotics, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Janiszewskiego 11-17, 50-372 Wrocław, Poland)

  • Jörg Galle

    (Interdisciplinary Centre for Bioinformatics (IZBI), Leipzig University, Haertelstr. 16-18, 04107 Leipzig, Germany)

Abstract

The spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has raised major health policy questions. Direct transmission via respiratory droplets seems to be the dominant route of its transmission. However, indirect transmission via shared contact of contaminated objects may also occur. The contribution of each transmission route to epidemic spread might change during lock-down scenarios. Here, we simulate viral spread of an abstract epidemic considering both routes of transmission by use of a stochastic, agent-based SEIR model. We show that efficient contact tracing (CT) at a high level of incidence can stabilize daily cases independently of the transmission route long before effects of herd immunity become relevant. CT efficacy depends on the fraction of cases that do not show symptoms. Combining CT with lock-down scenarios that reduce agent mobility lowers the incidence for exclusive direct transmission scenarios and can even eradicate the epidemic. However, even for small fractions of indirect transmission, such lockdowns can impede CT efficacy and increase case numbers. These counterproductive effects can be reduced by applying measures that favor distancing over reduced mobility. In summary, we show that the efficacy of lock-downs depends on the transmission route. Our results point to the particular importance of hygiene measures during mobility lock-downs.

Suggested Citation

  • Torsten Thalheim & Tyll Krüger & Jörg Galle, 2022. "Indirect Virus Transmission via Fomites Can Counteract Lock-Down Effectiveness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-14, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:21:p:14011-:d:955534
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ullah, Saif & Khan, Muhammad Altaf, 2020. "Modeling the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions on the dynamics of novel coronavirus with optimal control analysis with a case study," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    2. Dyani Lewis, 2021. "COVID-19 rarely spreads through surfaces. So why are we still deep cleaning?," Nature, Nature, vol. 590(7844), pages 26-28, February.
    3. Marta C. González & César A. Hidalgo & Albert-László Barabási, 2009. "Understanding individual human mobility patterns," Nature, Nature, vol. 458(7235), pages 238-238, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Wang, Juquan & Han, Dun, 2023. "Epidemic spreading on metapopulation networks considering indirect contact," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 619(C).

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