COVID-19 changing the face of the world. Can sub-Sahara Africa cope?

We formulate a mathematical model for the spread of the coronavirus which incorporates adherence to disease prevention. The major results of this study are: first, we determined optimal infection coefficients such that high levels of coronavirus transmission are prevented. Secondly, we have found th...

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Main Authors: Mandidayingeyi Hellen Machingauta, Bwayla Lungu, Edward M Lungu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Mathematics and Informatics 2021-03-01
Series:Biomath
Online Access:http://www.biomathforum.org/biomath/index.php/biomath/article/view/1381
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author Mandidayingeyi Hellen Machingauta
Bwayla Lungu
Edward M Lungu
author_facet Mandidayingeyi Hellen Machingauta
Bwayla Lungu
Edward M Lungu
author_sort Mandidayingeyi Hellen Machingauta
collection DOAJ
description We formulate a mathematical model for the spread of the coronavirus which incorporates adherence to disease prevention. The major results of this study are: first, we determined optimal infection coefficients such that high levels of coronavirus transmission are prevented. Secondly, we have found that there? exists several optimal pairs of removal rates, from the general population of asymptomatic and symptomatic infectives respectively that can protect hospital bed capacity and flatten the hospital admission curve. Of the many optimal strategies, this study recommends the pair that yields the least number of coronavirus related deaths. The results for South Africa, which is better placed than the other sub-Sahara African countries, show that failure to address hygiene and adherence issues will preclude the existence of an optimal strategy and could result in a more severe epidemic than the Italian COVID-19 epidemic. Relaxing lockdown measures to allow individuals to attend to vital needs such as food replenishment increases household and community infection rates and the severity of the overall infection.
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spelling doaj.art-55467207fec9409ca071882427fc9e3f2023-09-02T11:08:08ZengBulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Mathematics and InformaticsBiomath1314-684X1314-72182021-03-0110110.11145/j.biomath.2021.03.117866COVID-19 changing the face of the world. Can sub-Sahara Africa cope?Mandidayingeyi Hellen Machingauta0Bwayla Lungu1Edward M Lungu2Midlands State University. Botswana International University of Science and Technology.University of California Davis, Assistant Professor of teachingBotswana International University of Science and TechnologyWe formulate a mathematical model for the spread of the coronavirus which incorporates adherence to disease prevention. The major results of this study are: first, we determined optimal infection coefficients such that high levels of coronavirus transmission are prevented. Secondly, we have found that there? exists several optimal pairs of removal rates, from the general population of asymptomatic and symptomatic infectives respectively that can protect hospital bed capacity and flatten the hospital admission curve. Of the many optimal strategies, this study recommends the pair that yields the least number of coronavirus related deaths. The results for South Africa, which is better placed than the other sub-Sahara African countries, show that failure to address hygiene and adherence issues will preclude the existence of an optimal strategy and could result in a more severe epidemic than the Italian COVID-19 epidemic. Relaxing lockdown measures to allow individuals to attend to vital needs such as food replenishment increases household and community infection rates and the severity of the overall infection.http://www.biomathforum.org/biomath/index.php/biomath/article/view/1381
spellingShingle Mandidayingeyi Hellen Machingauta
Bwayla Lungu
Edward M Lungu
COVID-19 changing the face of the world. Can sub-Sahara Africa cope?
Biomath
title COVID-19 changing the face of the world. Can sub-Sahara Africa cope?
title_full COVID-19 changing the face of the world. Can sub-Sahara Africa cope?
title_fullStr COVID-19 changing the face of the world. Can sub-Sahara Africa cope?
title_full_unstemmed COVID-19 changing the face of the world. Can sub-Sahara Africa cope?
title_short COVID-19 changing the face of the world. Can sub-Sahara Africa cope?
title_sort covid 19 changing the face of the world can sub sahara africa cope
url http://www.biomathforum.org/biomath/index.php/biomath/article/view/1381
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