Wellcome Open Research (Apr 2020)

Inferring the number of COVID-19 cases from recently reported deaths [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]

  • Thibaut Jombart,
  • Kevin van Zandvoort,
  • Timothy W. Russell,
  • Christopher I. Jarvis,
  • Amy Gimma,
  • Sam Abbott,
  • Sam Clifford,
  • Sebastian Funk,
  • Hamish Gibbs,
  • Yang Liu,
  • Carl A. B. Pearson,
  • Nikos I. Bosse,
  • Centre for the Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases COVID-19 Working Group,
  • Rosalind M. Eggo,
  • Adam J. Kucharski,
  • W. John Edmunds

DOI
https://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.15786.1
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 5

Abstract

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We estimate the number of COVID-19 cases from newly reported deaths in a population without previous reports. Our results suggest that by the time a single death occurs, hundreds to thousands of cases are likely to be present in that population. This suggests containment via contact tracing will be challenging at this point, and other response strategies should be considered. Our approach is implemented in a publicly available, user-friendly, online tool.