Read on Twitter
@mophleb @DRM_Lebanon @WHOLebanon and for those -prematurely- celebrating the containment of COVID19 in Lebanon 
; check this out please 
#Lebanon #COVID19 #healthNERDS
@thehealthnerds
; check this out please #Lebanon #COVID19 #healthNERDS
@thehealthnerds
1/ The only certain # we currently have is the total # of deaths. As shown in previous thread & based on an approach that is used in other countries, you can estimate the âpotentialâ # of cases that we should have in order to have 19 deaths on April 7.
2/ How to do this?
Examine different case fatality ratios (CFRs): 1%, 2.5%, 5%
Examine different times to death: 17 days & 10 days
# of deaths on April 7 = 19
Calculate potential # of cases based on different growth rates (doubling time: 8 days, 10 days)
Examine different case fatality ratios (CFRs): 1%, 2.5%, 5%
Examine different times to death: 17 days & 10 days
# of deaths on April 7 = 19
Calculate potential # of cases based on different growth rates (doubling time: 8 days, 10 days)
3/ Time to death = 17 days
If we go with the likely (best case) scenario of 2.5% CFR & doubling time of 10 days (containment measures are working), we should have 2599 cases TODAY in order to have 19 deaths.
If we go with the likely (best case) scenario of 2.5% CFR & doubling time of 10 days (containment measures are working), we should have 2599 cases TODAY in order to have 19 deaths.
4/ Time to death = 10 days
If we go with likely (best case) scenario of 2.5% CFR & doubling time of 10 days (containment measures are working), we should have 1566 cases TODAY in order to have 19 deaths.
If we go with likely (best case) scenario of 2.5% CFR & doubling time of 10 days (containment measures are working), we should have 1566 cases TODAY in order to have 19 deaths.
5/ The total # of cases should be between 1566 & 2599 in order to have 19 deaths today (time to death between 10 and 17 days); i.e., we are missing cases by a factor of ~ 3 to 5.
6/ A question arises: If we are missing all these cases, why arenât we seeing a surge in ICU admissions
7/ Out of 467 active cases, 88 are hospitalized & 11 are in ICU. So the majority of cases in Lebanon donât require hospitalization.
If the cases we are missing are mild (donât require hospitalization), then, they wonât get identified because they arenât tested/hospitalized.
If the cases we are missing are mild (donât require hospitalization), then, they wonât get identified because they arenât tested/hospitalized.
8/ If the missing cases are mild/donât require hospitalization, does it matter that we are missing them?
Short-term
No, if we only consider healthcare system capacity
Long-term Yes, if we consider continuous spread in the community, ultimately getting into vulnerable groups
Short-term
No, if we only consider healthcare system capacity Long-term
Yes, if we consider continuous spread in the community, ultimately getting into vulnerable groups
9/ Why are we missing these cases?
We are NOT TESTING ENOUGH
Testing is focused in certain areas (no testing labs in rural areas)
Access to testing is limited by location & cost $$
We are NOT TESTING ENOUGH Testing is focused in certain areas (no testing labs in rural areas) Access to testing is limited by location & cost $$
10/ What should we do?
Expand testing to RURAL areas
Conduct RANDOM testing
ISOLATE +ve cases & trace/isolate their contacts
If the # of new cases continues to decline THEN you can assume that you have started to contain the outbreak.
Expand testing to RURAL areas Conduct RANDOM testing ISOLATE +ve cases & trace/isolate their contacts If the # of new cases continues to decline
THEN you can assume that you have started to contain the outbreak.
p.s. I really hope Iâm wrong, and you are all right⌠but if itâs the other way around, the price is high!
@Rattibha unroll please
