Is large-scale rapid CoV-2 testing a substitute for lockdowns?

Marc Diederichs, René Glawion (), Peter G. Kremsner (), Timo Mitze, Gernot Müller, Dominik Papies (), Felix Schulz and Klaus Wälde
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René Glawion: University of Hamburg
Peter G. Kremsner: University of Tübingen
Dominik Papies: University of Tübingen
Felix Schulz: Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

No 2112, Working Papers from Gutenberg School of Management and Economics, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz

Abstract: 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 evaluate the effects of a unique policy experiment: In March and April 2021, the city of T¨ubingen set up a testing scheme while relaxing contact restrictions. We compare case rates in Tübingen county to an appropriately identified control unit. The experiment led to an increase in the reported case rate. This increase is robust across alternative statistical specifications. An epidemiological model that corrects for ’more cases due to more testing’ and ’reduced testing and reporting during the Easter holiday’ also confirms the finding.

Pages: 46 pages
Date: 2021-20-04, Revised 2021-03-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-isf
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https://download.uni-mainz.de/RePEc/pdf/Discussion_Paper_2112.pdf Revised version, 2021 (application/pdf)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:jgu:wpaper:2112

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