How does social distancing affect the reach of an epidemic in social networks? We present Monte Carlo simulation results of a Susceptible- Infected-Removed (SIR) model on a network, where individuals are limited in the number of other people they can interact with  . While increased social distancing always reduces the spread of an infectious disease, the magnitude varies greatly depending on the topology of the social network. Our results also reveal the importance of coordination at the global level. In particular, the public health benefits from social distancing to a group (e.g., a country) may be completely undone if that group maintains connections with outside groups that are not social distancing .
How does social distancing affect the reach of an epidemic in social networks? We present Monte Carlo simulation results of a capacity constrained Susceptible-Infected-Removed (SIR) model . The key modelling feature is that individuals are limited in the number of acquaintances that they can interact with , thereby constraining disease transmission to an infectious subnetwork of the original social network . While increased social distancing always reduces the spread of an infectious disease, the magnitude varies greatly depending on the topology of the network. Our results also reveal the importance of coordinating social distancing policies at the global level. In particular, the public health benefits from social distancing to a group (e.g., a country) may be completely undone if that group maintains connections with outside groups that are not following suit .
R
Susceptible- Infected-Removed
capacity constrained Susceptible-Infected-Removed
R
on a network, where
. The key modelling feature is that
R
other people
acquaintances that
A
, thereby constraining disease transmission to an infectious subnetwork of the original social network
D
social
R
coordination
coordinating social distancing policies
R
social distancing
following suit