Abstract：
This study analyzed global data on epidemic control measures and economic conditions in different countries during different mutant strain epidemic periods, including the Alpha, Delta, and Omicron strains. The study estimated the elasticity coefficient through a log-log model, which represents the percent change of the confirmed case number with respect to a percent change in the total number of screening tests in a country for epidemic control. The 7-day rolling data of screening tests and confirmed cases from the Our World in Data database for the pandemic periods of Alpha strain in 2020, Delta strain in 2021, and Omicron strain in 2022, suggest that the magnitude of the elasticity was associated with the economic condition of a country. Compared with the results during either Alpha or Delta pandemic period, the Omicron pandemic has a much higher estimated elasticity coefficient of 1.317 (Alpha: 0.827 and Delta: 0.885). Further examining economic conditions categorized by quartile ranges, the results indicate that the elasticity is statistically significantly lower in countries with gross domestic product (GDP) per capita between $11,354 and $26,651, and in countries with GDP per capita above $26,651 than in countries with GDP per capita below $3,335. These results suggest that countries should consider not only epidemiological measures but also economic conditions when formulating epidemic control strategies. This study highlights the importance of assessing the appropriateness of epidemic control strategies within a country and provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of such strategies, particularly in the context of community screening.
摘要：
本研究分析了不同突变株流行时期不同国家的疫情控制措施和经济状况的全球数据,包括阿尔法,Delta,和Omicron菌株。该研究通过对数-对数模型估计了弹性系数，它代表一个国家的确诊病例数相对于流行病控制筛查总数变化的百分比变化。我们的世界数据数据库中关于2020年Alpha毒株、2021年Delta毒株和2022年Omicron毒株大流行期的筛查测试和确诊病例的7天滚动数据表明，弹性的大小与一个国家的经济状况有关。与Alpha或Delta大流行期间的结果相比，Omicron大流行的估计弹性系数为1.317（Alpha：0.827和Delta：0.885）。进一步检查按四分位数范围分类的经济状况，结果表明，人均国内生产总值（GDP）在11,354美元至26,651美元之间的国家以及人均GDP高于26,651美元的国家的弹性在统计上明显低于人均GDP低于3,335美元的国家。这些结果表明，各国在制定流行病控制策略时不仅应考虑流行病学措施，还应考虑经济条件。这项研究强调了评估一个国家内流行病控制策略的适当性的重要性，并为此类战略的有效性提供了宝贵的见解，特别是在社区筛查的背景下。
