Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://doi.org/10.25358/openscience-8227
Authors: | Diederichs, Marc Glawion, René Kremsner, Peter G. Mitze, Timo Müller, Gernot J. Papies, Dominik Schulz, Felix Wälde, Klaus |
Title: | Is large-scale rapid CoV-2 testing a substitute for lockdowns? |
Online publication date: | 7-Nov-2022 |
Year of first publication: | 2022 |
Language: | english |
Abstract: | Background Various forms of contact restrictions have been adopted in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Around February 2021, rapid testing appeared as a new policy instrument. Some claim it may serve as a substitute for contact restrictions. We study the strength of this argument by evaluating the effects of a unique policy experiment: In March and April 2021, the city of Tübingen set up a testing scheme while relaxing contact restrictions. Methods We compare case rates in Tübingen county to an appropriately identified control unit. We employ the synthetic control method. We base interpretations of our findings on an extended SEIR model. Findings The experiment led to an increase in the reported case rate. This increase is robust across alternative statistical specifications. This is also due to more testing leading initially to more reported cases. An epidemiological model that corrects for ‘more cases due to more testing’ and ‘reduced testing and reporting during the Easter holiday’ confirms that the overall effect of the experiment led to more infections. Interpretation The number of rapid tests were not sufficiently high in this experiment to compensate for more contacts and thereby infections caused by relaxing contact restrictions. |
DDC: | 320 Politik 320 Political science 330 Wirtschaft 330 Economics 610 Medizin 610 Medical sciences |
Institution: | Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz |
Department: | FB 03 Rechts- und Wirtschaftswissenschaften |
Place: | Mainz |
ROR: | https://ror.org/023b0x485 |
DOI: | http://doi.org/10.25358/openscience-8227 |
Version: | Published version |
Publication type: | Zeitschriftenaufsatz |
Document type specification: | Scientific article |
License: | CC BY |
Information on rights of use: | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
Journal: | PLOS ONE 17 3 |
Pages or article number: | e0265207 |
Publisher: | PLOS |
Publisher place: | San Francisco, California, US |
Issue date: | 2022 |
ISSN: | 1932-6203 |
Publisher DOI: | 10.1371/journal.pone.0265207 |
Appears in collections: | DFG-491381577-G |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | ||
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is_largescale_rapid_cov2_test-20221104095026642.pdf | 679.17 kB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |