Question

In: Economics

Addressing COVID-19 is a pressing health and social concern. To date, many epidemic projections and policies...


Addressing COVID-19 is a pressing health and social concern. To date, many epidemic projections and policies addressing COVID-19 have been designed without seroprevalence1 data to inform epidemic parameters. A study published on April 11 stirred huge public/media/government interest. It measured the seroprevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, name of the virus causing COVID-19, in Santa Clara County, California.

The study found the population prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Santa Clara County implies that the infection is much more widespread than indicated by the number of confirmed cases. Based on different scenarios, the population prevalence of COVID-19 in Santa Clara ranged from 2.49% (with 95% CI of 1.80% - 3.17%) to 4.16% (with 95% CI of 2.58% - 5.70%). These prevalence estimates are 50 to 85 times more than the number of cases confirmed by the routine tests. Population prevalence estimates can be used to calibrate epidemic and mortality projections and more importantly can be used as criteria for reopening the economy.

Canada is facing the same pressing health and social concern and there is consensus that our confirmed COVID-19 cases are significantly underestimated due to insufficient tests. Suppose you are designated as a member of the important task force to conduct a similar study in the city of Vaughan, the particularly hard hit city by the COVID-19 outbreak in the GTA. Vaughan’s current confirmed infection rate (from the on-going insufficient tests) is 0.113%. Assume there is a consensus among epidemiologists that the confirmed infection rate of 0.113% is many folds underestimated and the true infection rate might be around 3.5%.

Elaborate on your proposal as a member of the task force. You may choose to discuss random sampling design, sample size (you have the concern of time/money cost if the sample is too big; in the meanwhile, you have the concern of the validity of the estimates if the sample is too small.), hypothesis setting, size of the test or other statistical issues you think to be important for such a medical study. For every aspect of your decision, it is important to communicate the rationale.   
  

Solutions

Expert Solution

For the hypothesis testing, you will have to first select a random sample of say 50 people, after this you need to fix your null hypothesis which is an assumption about the study that you wish to reject.

Lets say we wish to see that the average number of people that are have been infacted are greater than that of the already indicated number of cases. Now, we might aim to test it in the form of mean number of people affected or the proportion of people that are actually affected. Since it is given to us that it is a 95% confidence interval, we can take the level of significance as being 5%.

Null hypothesis: Ho: m=mo ( that the population mean is equal to the sample mean)

Alternative Hypothesis: H1: m>mo

as we can see that it uses a right tailed test which would be a one tailed test. After collecting the sample mean and sample standard deviation (s/) . You could also consider several other variables that play a role in a person's infection with coronavirus for eg. how many times a day the person makes a contact with people outside, or orders food from outside. and you could similarly do the hypothesis testing for all of these variables and see whether it plays a role.

after calculating the test statistic i.e. z=

where = sample mean

= estimated population mean

s= sample standard deviation

n= number of observations

when the test statistic value> critical value( from the z table)

then you reject the null hypohesis

and when, T.S value < critical value

then you dont reject the null hypothesis


Related Solutions

As the COVID-19 epidemic rages in Ghana, many are seeking answers to the following questions: 1....
As the COVID-19 epidemic rages in Ghana, many are seeking answers to the following questions: 1. What are the risk factors for getting infected with COVID-19? 2. What are the risk factors for having symptomatic infection i.e. feeling unwell? 3. What are the risk factors for severe disease (needing hospitalization) and death once a person is infected with COVID-19? Out of the under listed, choose a study design to answer any ONE of the three research questions above: 1. Case-based...
2.     According to some health care economists, the current epidemic of COVID - 19 in the United...
2.     According to some health care economists, the current epidemic of COVID - 19 in the United States (i.e. the rising morbidity and mortality from the spread of the coronavirus) bolsters the argument that health care should be a basic human right. As best you can, present their argument using at least one economic concept that we have discussed in class (i.e. externalities or public goods). Briefly explain why you agree or disagree with them.
discuss the current health policies of UK theoretical concepts and ideologies health policies regarding COVID-19
discuss the current health policies of UK theoretical concepts and ideologies health policies regarding COVID-19
Discuss United States current health policies and health practice in COVID-19 ?
Discuss United States current health policies and health practice in COVID-19 ?
Countries policy suggestion about covid-19 : Policy suggestions (Fiscal policies, Monetary policies, Financial regulation policies, Social...
Countries policy suggestion about covid-19 : Policy suggestions (Fiscal policies, Monetary policies, Financial regulation policies, Social insurance policies, Industry policies, Trade policies) according to what countries prefer
What is the number one public health concern in the United States. (COVID-19) Discuss the number...
What is the number one public health concern in the United States. (COVID-19) Discuss the number one public health concern, and how it became the top concern Determine what is currently being done to combat this concern and if it is working Explore if there are other options or ideas for tackling this concern Detail what you think the future holds for this concern and if you think another concern will top this one in the future
please explain economic policies in response to the outbreak of Covid-19 in Japan. explain as many...
please explain economic policies in response to the outbreak of Covid-19 in Japan. explain as many and as clearly as possible. What is done by the country to maintain its economy?
From your own experience, how are the COVID-19 pandemic and the policies to combat the COVID-19...
From your own experience, how are the COVID-19 pandemic and the policies to combat the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the environment and the economy?
Case Study: COVID-safeguard System COVID-19 is a pandemic which is causing social, economic and health issues...
Case Study: COVID-safeguard System COVID-19 is a pandemic which is causing social, economic and health issues for the whole world. Many governments around the world are using advanced technologies to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks in their countries. For example, some of these advanced technologies are use of CCTV cameras to monitor people movements, drones to warn people to use face masks and mobile apps to track the social contact among people. Let’s assume that you are working as a system analyst...
Accident and health issues related to Covid-19. Ex. Covid-19 health issues and the likelihood of that...
Accident and health issues related to Covid-19. Ex. Covid-19 health issues and the likelihood of that specific accident happening. Gracias!
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT