Digital twin simulation modelling shows that mass testing and local lockdowns effectively controlled COVID-19 in Denmark

Abstract

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to evaluate different mitigation strategies for future preparedness. Mass testing and local lockdowns were employed during the Alpha wave in Denmark, which led to ten times more tests than the typical European member state and incidence-based restrictions at the parish level. This study aims to quantify the effects of these interventions in terms of hospital admissions and societal freedom. This study assesses the effectiveness of these strategies via counterfactual scenarios using a detailed, individual-based simulation model that replicates the entire Danish population. The model considers multiple factors, including evolving societal restrictions, vaccination roll-out, seasonal influences, and varying intensities of PCR and antigen testing across different age groups and degree of completed vaccination. It also integrates adaptive human behavior in response to changes in incidences at the municipality and parish levels. The simulations show, that without mass testing in Denmark, there would have been a 150% increase in hospital admissions, and additional local lockdowns equivalent to 21 days of strict national lockdown. Without the policy of local lockdowns, hospitalizations would have increased by 50%. In conclusion, the combination of mass testing and local lockdowns likely prevented a large increase in hospitalizations while increasing overall societal freedom during the Alpha wave in Denmark. In future epidemics, mass testing and local lockdowns can likely prevent overwhelming healthcare systems in phases of high transmission and hospitalization risks. This study looked at how Denmark handled the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically focusing on mass testing and local lockdowns during the Alpha-wave. Compared to other European countries, Denmark conducted ten times more tests and implemented restrictions at the parish level based on local incidence. Using a detailed simulation model, the researchers explored what would have happened without these measures. Without mass testing, hospital admissions would have increased by 150%, and without local lockdowns, they would have gone up by 50%. Furthermore, mass testing prevented 21 days of strict national lockdown. In essence, mass testing and local lockdowns in Denmark prevented a substantial rise in hospitalizations while allowing more overall societal freedom. This highlights the importance of these strategies for future pandemic preparedness. Græsbøll et al. use a detailed, individual-based simulation model of SARS-CoV-2 transmission to evaluate mass testing and local lockdowns during the Alpha wave in Denmark in counterfactual scenarios. The model predicts that the combination of these measures prevented a large increase in hospitalizations while increasing overall societal freedom.