Is Curfew Effective in Limiting SARS-CoV-2 Progression? An Evaluation in France Based on Epidemiokinetic Analyses

The impact of public transportation on the transmission of COVID-19 in Rwanda

Introduction

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has placed a significant burden on healthcare systems worldwide, particularly in sub-Saharan regions where healthcare resources are limited. The transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is facilitated by the movement of people from place to place. Therefore, implementing measures that restrict movement of people and contacts is crucial in controlling the spread of the disease. Following the identification of the first COVID-19 case in Rwanda, the government implemented stringent measures, including a complete nationwide lockdown, border closures, curfews, reduced capacity in public transportation and businesses, and mandatory testing. This study aims to assess epidemiological trends in COVID-19 cases in relation to changes in population mobility within the public transportation system.

Methods

A descriptive analysis using publicly available data on COVID-19 epidemiological indicators (cases, deaths, vaccinations, and stringency index) and mobility data was conducted.

Results

The results reveal a strong correlation between mobility in public transportation and other activities, underscoring Rwanda's reliance on its public transportation system. The study also identifies a pattern where increases in transit station mobility preceded spikes in COVID-19 cases, suggesting that the subsequent rise in public transportation usage may contribute to higher infection rates.

Discussion

Therefore, this study emphasizes the importance of ongoing vigilance and regulatory measures regarding public transportation during infectious disease outbreaks.

Epidemiokinetic Tools to Monitor Lockdown Efficacy and Estimate the Duration Adequate to Control SARS-CoV-2 Spread

Various key performance indicators (KPIs) are communicated daily to the public by health authorities since the COVID-19 pandemic has started. “Upstream” KPIs mainly include the incidence of detected Sars-CoV-2-positive cases in the population, and “downstream” KPIs include daily hospitalizations, intensive care unit admissions and fatalities. Whereas “downstream” KPIs are essential to evaluate and adapt hospital organization, “upstream” KPIs are the most appropriate to decide on the strength of restrictions such as lockdown set up and evaluate their effectiveness. Here, we suggested tools derived from pharmacokinetic calculations to improve understanding the epidemic progression. From the time course of the number of new cases of SARS-coV-2 infection in the population, it is possible to calculate the infection rate constant using a simple linear regression and determine its corresponding half-life. This epidemic regression half-life is helpful to measure the potential benefits of restriction measures and to estimate the adequate duration of lockdown if implemented by policymakers in relation to the decided public health objectives. In France, during the first lockdown, we reported an epidemic half-life of 10 days. Our tools allow clearly acknowledging that the zero-COVID target is difficult to reach after a period of lockdown as seven half-lives are required to clear 99.2% of the epidemic and more than 10 half-lives to almost reach the objective of eliminating 100% of the contaminations.