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Statistical and agent-based modelling of the transmissibility of different SARS-CoV-2 variants in England and impact of different interventions

Statistical and agent-based modelling of the transmissibility of different SARS-CoV-2 variants in England and impact of different interventions
Statistical and agent-based modelling of the transmissibility of different SARS-CoV-2 variants in England and impact of different interventions
The English SARS-CoV-2 epidemic has been affected by the emergence of new viral variants such as B.1.177, Alpha and Delta, and changing restrictions. We used statistical models and the agent-based model Covasim, in June 2021, to estimate B.1.177 to be 20% more transmissible than the wild type, Alpha to be 50–80% more transmissible than B.1.177 and Delta to be 65–90% more transmissible than Alpha. Using these estimates in Covasim (calibrated 1 September 2020 to 20 June 2021), in June 2021, we found that due to the high transmissibility of Delta, resurgence in infections driven by the Delta variant would not be prevented, but would be strongly reduced by delaying the relaxation of restrictions by one month and with continued vaccination. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Technical challenges of modelling real-life epidemics and examples of overcoming these’.
Panovska-Griffiths, J.
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Swallow, B.
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Hinch, R.
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Cohen, J.
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Rosenfeld, K.
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Stuart, R.M.
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Ferretti, L.
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Lauro, F. Di
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Wymant, C.
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Izzo, A.
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Waites, W.
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Viner, R.
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Bonell, C.
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Fraser, C.
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Klein, D.
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Kerr, C.C.
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The COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) Consortium
Panovska-Griffiths, J.
da117053-d638-4ccc-b527-d2e06e5bbb7a
Swallow, B.
771b3a5f-f996-4ff1-9b01-8968aaef69e9
Hinch, R.
182be4d0-c6c4-4fe5-84f2-c4c84032ddd3
Cohen, J.
6eddab3c-5a4d-458d-bcf9-c03812e057ea
Rosenfeld, K.
ea72cedf-6bcf-4ff2-8eec-fbe6ce97c01d
Stuart, R.M.
9d0c7351-855c-41ce-b03b-81c6813f6b20
Ferretti, L.
54e395ea-5fdf-4739-8ea3-93e0d033e2e5
Lauro, F. Di
1d93ccb9-b534-4879-89b1-4dca225a2d07
Wymant, C.
47e04c42-bbad-427d-bb2c-fbf01b40e242
Izzo, A.
d9660b96-895c-4726-98fb-c8d4bef1f06d
Waites, W.
a069e5ff-f440-4b89-ae81-3b58c2ae2afd
Viner, R.
d6d92ebc-31c4-4f0a-b655-ff291af3101c
Bonell, C.
de62d376-0d51-4e2f-9237-6a2536702bdb
Fraser, C.
9d1dbc17-1c30-4554-b47a-56de737f4fa6
Klein, D.
38add2b2-4f33-4fb4-8155-daba687f972f
Kerr, C.C.
4c842e6e-600b-4d51-834f-3b007a1c0af0

Panovska-Griffiths, J., Swallow, B., Hinch, R., Cohen, J., Rosenfeld, K., Stuart, R.M., Ferretti, L., Lauro, F. Di, Wymant, C., Izzo, A., Waites, W., Viner, R., Bonell, C., Fraser, C., Klein, D. and Kerr, C.C. , The COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) Consortium (2022) Statistical and agent-based modelling of the transmissibility of different SARS-CoV-2 variants in England and impact of different interventions. Proceedings A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 380 (2233). (doi:10.1098/rsta.2021.0315).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The English SARS-CoV-2 epidemic has been affected by the emergence of new viral variants such as B.1.177, Alpha and Delta, and changing restrictions. We used statistical models and the agent-based model Covasim, in June 2021, to estimate B.1.177 to be 20% more transmissible than the wild type, Alpha to be 50–80% more transmissible than B.1.177 and Delta to be 65–90% more transmissible than Alpha. Using these estimates in Covasim (calibrated 1 September 2020 to 20 June 2021), in June 2021, we found that due to the high transmissibility of Delta, resurgence in infections driven by the Delta variant would not be prevented, but would be strongly reduced by delaying the relaxation of restrictions by one month and with continued vaccination. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Technical challenges of modelling real-life epidemics and examples of overcoming these’.

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Accepted/In Press date: 9 May 2022
e-pub ahead of print date: 15 August 2022
Published date: 3 October 2022

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 500167
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/500167
PURE UUID: 8b2e2dcd-7238-4936-bd34-5e6f4080f989
ORCID for W. Waites: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-7759-6805

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Date deposited: 22 Apr 2025 16:47
Last modified: 22 Aug 2025 02:43

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Contributors

Author: J. Panovska-Griffiths
Author: B. Swallow
Author: R. Hinch
Author: J. Cohen
Author: K. Rosenfeld
Author: R.M. Stuart
Author: L. Ferretti
Author: F. Di Lauro
Author: C. Wymant
Author: A. Izzo
Author: W. Waites ORCID iD
Author: R. Viner
Author: C. Bonell
Author: C. Fraser
Author: D. Klein
Author: C.C. Kerr
Corporate Author: The COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) Consortium

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