A study from the University of Wyoming suggests that frequent diagnostic testing combined with voluntary self-isolation may be more effective than large-scale closures in managing infectious diseases like COVID-19. Published in Scientific Reports, the research team—comprised of economics faculty and a recent Ph.D. graduate—developed an epidemiological and economic model to contrast physical distancing mandates with testing and self-isolation strategies during pandemics. Their findings indicate that random testing outperforms physical distancing in most scenarios, mitigating disease impact more effectively.
Prior to this research, the U.S. response to COVID-19 relied heavily on distancing measures, which had significant economic and mental health repercussions. The study also incorporates the concept of "superspreading," highlighting how a few infected individuals can expose many others. Evaluating various models, researchers found that testing and self-isolation strategies provide higher net benefits compared to distancing, particularly when considering compliance rates and testing accuracy.
While the study acknowledges that optimal governmental response may vary, it underscores the advantages of combining testing with self-isolation over strict physical distancing, particularly for variants resembling the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 strain.
