From node to network: weaving a global perspective on efficacy and costs of non-pharmaceutical interventions
Abstract Non-pharmaceutical intervention (NPI) policies, ranging from mild measures to total isolation, were implemented worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. We adopt a systematic approach to guide policymakers in deploying NPI policies to mitigate the pandemic’s effects while balancing their soc...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87566-8 |
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| author | Chong Xu Sameer Kumar Muer Yang Nidhi Ghildayal Charu Chandra |
| author_facet | Chong Xu Sameer Kumar Muer Yang Nidhi Ghildayal Charu Chandra |
| author_sort | Chong Xu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Non-pharmaceutical intervention (NPI) policies, ranging from mild measures to total isolation, were implemented worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. We adopt a systematic approach to guide policymakers in deploying NPI policies to mitigate the pandemic’s effects while balancing their social and economic impacts. Our results show that each NPI has an optimal duration, beyond which its effectiveness plateaus. Stricter policies require longer durations, and when sustained for the optimal period, earlier implementation is more effective. However, when this duration is unattainable, timing becomes critical, as both early and late implementation reduce efficacy. Stringent policies with insufficient durations may perform worse than less restrictive measures applied over the same period, and an NPI policy aimed at minimizing overall healthcare burden under a fixed policy duration may significantly intensify peak-time strains. Finally, as the virus becomes more transmissible and less lethal, the effectiveness gap between stringent and less restrictive policies narrows, with targeted interventions for vulnerable groups outperforming universal strict measures. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e9a3f1c4c3524e64b0afb3513d586f7d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-e9a3f1c4c3524e64b0afb3513d586f7d2025-01-26T12:23:53ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111410.1038/s41598-025-87566-8From node to network: weaving a global perspective on efficacy and costs of non-pharmaceutical interventionsChong Xu0Sameer Kumar1Muer Yang2Nidhi Ghildayal3Charu Chandra4School of Engineering, University of St. ThomasDepartment of Operations and Supply Chain Management, Opus College of Business, University of St. ThomasDepartment of Operations and Supply Chain Management, Opus College of Business, University of St. ThomasDepartment of Surgery, NYU Grossman School of Medicine and NYU Langone HealthInformation and Operations Management Department, University of Michigan – DearbornAbstract Non-pharmaceutical intervention (NPI) policies, ranging from mild measures to total isolation, were implemented worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. We adopt a systematic approach to guide policymakers in deploying NPI policies to mitigate the pandemic’s effects while balancing their social and economic impacts. Our results show that each NPI has an optimal duration, beyond which its effectiveness plateaus. Stricter policies require longer durations, and when sustained for the optimal period, earlier implementation is more effective. However, when this duration is unattainable, timing becomes critical, as both early and late implementation reduce efficacy. Stringent policies with insufficient durations may perform worse than less restrictive measures applied over the same period, and an NPI policy aimed at minimizing overall healthcare burden under a fixed policy duration may significantly intensify peak-time strains. Finally, as the virus becomes more transmissible and less lethal, the effectiveness gap between stringent and less restrictive policies narrows, with targeted interventions for vulnerable groups outperforming universal strict measures.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87566-8 |
| spellingShingle | Chong Xu Sameer Kumar Muer Yang Nidhi Ghildayal Charu Chandra From node to network: weaving a global perspective on efficacy and costs of non-pharmaceutical interventions Scientific Reports |
| title | From node to network: weaving a global perspective on efficacy and costs of non-pharmaceutical interventions |
| title_full | From node to network: weaving a global perspective on efficacy and costs of non-pharmaceutical interventions |
| title_fullStr | From node to network: weaving a global perspective on efficacy and costs of non-pharmaceutical interventions |
| title_full_unstemmed | From node to network: weaving a global perspective on efficacy and costs of non-pharmaceutical interventions |
| title_short | From node to network: weaving a global perspective on efficacy and costs of non-pharmaceutical interventions |
| title_sort | from node to network weaving a global perspective on efficacy and costs of non pharmaceutical interventions |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87566-8 |
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