Use of COVID-19 Test Positivity Rate, Epidemiological, and Clinical Tools for Guiding Targeted Public Health Interventions

Abstract

India experienced a second wave of COVID-19 infection with an unprecedented upsurge in the number of cases. We have analyzed the effect of different restrictive measures implemented in six Indian states. Further, based on available national and international data on disease transmission and clinical presentation, we have proposed a decision-making matrix for planning adequate resources to combat the future waves of COVID-19. We conclude that pragmatic and well calibrated localized restrictions, tailored as per specific needs may achieve a decline in disease transmission comparable to drastic steps like national lockdowns. Additionally, we have underscored the critical need for countries to generate local epidemiological, clinical and laboratory data alongwith community perception and uptake of various non-pharmaceutical interventions, for effective planning and policy making.

Implications of COVID-19 on Public Policy, Supply Chain Disruptions, and Monitoring Methods

“…Chinese restrictions extended to include the separation of family members in the case of diagnosed infections. India suffered devastating infection rates during April and May of 2021 and imposed district specific restrictions during the second wave of infections to help mitigate the spread through densely populated regions [55]. In the United States and Canada, restrictions and guidelines varied significantly from region to region, owing to local policies, population density, and infection rates.…”

“…In the United States and Canada, restrictions and guidelines varied significantly from region to region, owing to local policies, population density, and infection rates. Evidence in the United States suggests that stricter enforcement of public policy measures is likely linked to lower infection rates [56], while sudden, removal of restrictions has led to additional outbreaks [55,57,58]. Many governments chose to enact "phases" of restrictions, which lead to gradual policy changes intended to ease the stress on both public and private health care systems by controlling the total number of cases.…”