Leiden University Student Repository

Stehouwer, E.M.A.B. (4510)

Modelling the Role of Lockdowns in Reducing the Spread of Infectious Diseases

Bachelor thesis | Wiskunde (BSc)

Background: COVID-19 was the first infectious disease to be declared as a pandemic in history. With over 7 million death due to the consequences of COVID-19, and significant impact on the economy, healthcare systems, and social life, the virus can be considered one of the most serious of our time. It is likely that more pandemics will occur, due to globalisation. Many factors exist that can influence the pandemic (e.g., pharmaceutical and social interventions). One factor that can reduce the influence of a pandemic is implementing a lockdown. More knowledge on the e?ectivity of lockdowns during COVID-19 could increase our knowledge on how to implement a lockdown during a second pandemic. Objectives: Currently, there is still little data on whether a lockdown as a measure to reduce the spread of a virus is e?ective. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the e?ectivity of the lockdown in the Netherlands during the period from 01-03-2020 to 01- 06-2020, to analyze...Show moreBackground: COVID-19 was the first infectious disease to be declared as a pandemic in history. With over 7 million death due to the consequences of COVID-19, and significant impact on the economy, healthcare systems, and social life, the virus can be considered one of the most serious of our time. It is likely that more pandemics will occur, due to globalisation. Many factors exist that can influence the pandemic (e.g., pharmaceutical and social interventions). One factor that can reduce the influence of a pandemic is implementing a lockdown. More knowledge on the e?ectivity of lockdowns during COVID-19 could increase our knowledge on how to implement a lockdown during a second pandemic. Objectives: Currently, there is still little data on whether a lockdown as a measure to reduce the spread of a virus is e?ective. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the e?ectivity of the lockdown in the Netherlands during the period from 01-03-2020 to 01- 06-2020, to analyze whether there could have been a more optimal starting day or duration, and to examine whether the lockdown was Pareto EShow less

Author

Stehouwer, E.M.A.B.

Faculty

Faculty of Science

Supervisors

Veerman, F.W.J.

ECTS Credits

18

Language

en