Open AccessA multi-stage SEIR model to predict the potential of a new COVID-19 wave in KSA after lifting all travel restrictions
Author(s) -
Nidhal Ben Khedher,
Lioua Kolsi,
Haitham Alsaif
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
alexandria engineering journal /alexandria engineering journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2090-2670
pISSN - 1110-0168
DOI - 10.1016/j.aej.2021.02.058
Subject(s) - covid-19 , stage (stratigraphy) , pandemic , basic reproduction number , outbreak , herd immunity , front (military) , operations research , computer science , econometrics , demography , geography , mathematics , vaccination , medicine , virology , meteorology , biology , population , paleontology , disease , pathology , sociology , infectious disease (medical specialty)
The complete lifting of travel restrictions to KSA takes place after 3rd of January 2021.There are fears that KSA will confront a new COVID-19 wave, especially when the most of countries that resumed the international flights are suffering now from the second surge. Fortunately, more than one Covid-19 Vaccine have been rolled out. However, herd immunity could be reached only through widespread vaccination. COVID-19 vaccines need more time to be properly protective, especially in front of people refusing to get vaccinated. A modified multi-stage SEIR model, with distinct reproductive numbers corresponding to before and after lockdown is employed to predict the potential of a new pandemic wave. First, the two-stage model employed to find the best fitting for the reproductive numbers. Then, the model is extended to three-stage one to investigate the relaxation. However, the modified model detects a second wave in early stage from 28th May to 17th June 2020 before even succeeding controlling the first outbreak. Subsequently, the four-stage SEIR model is used to predict the end of the second wave. Moreover, the model is employed to test the potential of a new pandemic surge after the international flights are resumed.