Two decades ago network scientists proposed that infectious diseases may be effectively halted by targeting interventions at a minority of highly connected individuals  . Can this strategy be effective in combating a disease transmitted through physical proximity such as the contemporary SARS-CoV-2? The strategy's effectiveness critically depends on high between-person variability in  close-range contacts. We analyze population survey data showing that indeed the frequency of close-range contacts across individuals is characterized by a small fraction of people reporting very high frequencies of close-range contacts . We simulate a population with empirical contact distributions coming out of lockdown. Simulations show that targeting a small fraction of high-degree individuals dramatically improves containment. Our results further suggest two concrete procedures for identifying high-contact individuals: acquaintance sampling and employment-based target .
Network scientists proposed that infectious diseases may be effectively halted by targeting interventions at a minority of highly connected individuals , or hubs . Can this strategy be effective in combating a disease transmitted through physical proximity such as SARS-CoV-2? Effectiveness critically depends on high between-person variability in the number of close-range contacts. We analyze population survey data showing that indeed the distribution of close-range contacts across individuals is characterized by a small fraction of individuals reporting very high frequencies . Strikingly, the average duration of contact is mostly invariant in the number of contacts, reinforcing the criticality of hubs . We simulate a population with empirical contact distributions coming out of lockdown. Simulations show that targeting hubs dramatically improves containment. Our results further suggest two concrete procedures for identifying high-contact individuals: acquaintance sampling and employment-based targeting .
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Two decades ago network
Network
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, or hubs
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the contemporary
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The strategy's effectiveness
Effectiveness
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the number of
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frequency
distribution
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people
individuals
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of close-range contacts
. Strikingly, the average duration of contact is mostly invariant in the number of contacts, reinforcing the criticality of hubs
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a small fraction of high-degree individuals
hubs
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target
targeting