The reproduction number in the classical epidemiological model

Georg Quaas

No 167, Working Papers from University of Leipzig, Faculty of Economics and Management Science

Abstract: The German Robert Koch Institute aims to "protect the population from disease and improve their state of health" (RKI 2017). To this end, it develops concrete, research-based recommendations for policymakers and makes data available to the expert public. Since March 4, 2020, it has been publishing the numbers of coronavirus infections reported by health authorities daily; since March 9, these data have included the numbers of people who have died of COVID-19; and since March 25, the RKI has reported the estimated numbers of those who have recovered. The important reproduction number, reported daily since April 7, has now largely replaced all other criteria used for decision-making. This paper aims to show that the calculation of this figure is neither theory-based nor particularly reliable. Nevertheless, there is a simple way to determine its change more or less conservatively and precisely.

Keywords: Classic epidemic model; reproduction number; contact rate; COVID-19; mathematics of highly infectious diseases; public health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C32 C61 I12 I18 J11 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-gen and nep-hea
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:leiwps:167

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