Testing and Adaptive Testing During the COVID-19 Crisis

The scenario presented in this chapter is investigating the potential effects of different testing policies in combination with isolating households. In particular we will explore the effect of isolating the household of an infected member and giving priority in testing for healthcare and education workers. Assuming that we have more tests available than necessary for the healthcare and education workers, the effect of different strategies for the leftover tests, don’t test youth, test only elderly with leftover tests, and test everyone with leftover tests are investigated. The results show that the combination of no priority in testing + testing everyone with leftover tests + isolation of the household of an infected member is the best combination to “flatten the curve”. Furthermore, the amount of deaths, the impact on hospitals, and the effects on people in isolation are explored. This scenario has been developed on request of regional Italian authorities.