Rational social distancing policy during epidemics with limited healthcare capacity

• Published in: PLoS computational biology Vol. 19; no. 10; p. e1011533
• Main Authors: Schnyder, Simon K., Molina, John J., Yamamoto, Ryoichi, Turner, Matthew S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Francisco Public Library of Science 16.10.2023; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Algorithms; Analysis; Biology and Life Sciences; Communicable diseases; Control; Costs; Decentralization; Decision making; Disease control; Epidemics; Equilibrium; Fatalities; Game theory; Health care; Health services; Infections; Infectious diseases; Intervention; Japan; Mathematical optimization; Medicine and Health Sciences; Objective function; Pandemics; Physical Sciences; Political aspects; Politics; Population; Public health administration; Social distancing; Social Sciences; Subsidies; United Kingdom; Vaccines; Japan; United Kingdom

Epidemics of infectious diseases posing a serious risk to human health have occurred throughout history. During recent epidemics there has been much debate about policy, including how and when to impose restrictions on behaviour. Policymakers must balance a complex spectrum of objectives, suggesting...