Optimal responses to an infectious disease

Abstract

We analyze an optimal control version of a simple SIRS epidemiology model. The policy maker can adopt policies to diminish the contact rate between infected and susceptible individuals, at a specific economic cost. The arrival of a vaccine will immediately end the epidemic. Total or partial immunity is modeled, while the contact rate can exhibit a (user specified) seasonality. The problem is solved in a spreadsheet environment. A reasonable parameter selection leads to optimal policies which are similar to those followed by different countries. A mild response relying on eventually reaching a high immunity level is optimal if ample health facilities are available. On the other hand limited health care facilities lead to strict lock downs while moderate ones allow a flattening of the curve approach.