Delaying the COVID‐19 epidemic in Australia: evaluating the effectiveness of international travel bans

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

Adeshina Adekunle¹  Michael Meehan¹  Emma McBryde¹  Diana Rojas‐Alvarez²  James Trauer³ 

[1] Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine James Cook University, Townsville Queensland;College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences James Cook University, Townsville Queensland;School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine Monash University Victoria;

关键词: COVID‐19;    travel ban;    mathematical modelling;    basic reproduction number;   

DOI  :  10.1111/1753-6405.13016

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Objective: Following the outbreak of novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), and the disease named COVID‐19, in Wuhan, China in late 2019, countries have implemented different interventions such as travel bans to slow the spread of this novel virus. This brief report evaluates the effect of travel bans imposed to prevent COVID‐19 importation in the Australian context. Methods: We developed a stochastic meta‐population model to capture the global dynamics and spread of COVID‐19. By adjusting our model to capture the travel bans imposed globally and in Australia, the predicted COVID‐19 cases imported to Australia were evaluated in comparison to observed imported cases. Results: Our modelling results closely aligned with observed cases in Australia and elsewhere. We observed a 79% reduction in COVID‐19 importation and a delay of the COVID‐19 outbreak in Australia by approximately one month. Further projection of COVID‐19 to May 2020 showed spread patterns depending on the basic reproduction number. Conclusion: Imposing the travel ban was effective in delaying widespread transmission of COVID‐19. However, strengthening of the domestic control measures is needed to prevent Australia from becoming another epicentre. Implications for public health: This report has shown the importance of border closure to pandemic control.

【 授权许可】

Unknown