Optimal control to limit the spread of COVID-19 in Italy. (Special issue on COVID.)

We apply optimal control theory to a generalized SEIR-type model. The proposed system has three controls, representing social distancing, preventive means, and treatment measures to combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. We analyze such optimal control problem with respect to real data transmission in Italy. Our results show the appropriateness of the model, in particular with respect to the number of quarantined/hospitalized (confirmed and infected) and recovered individuals. Considering the Pontryagin controls, we show how in a perfect world one could drastically diminish the number of susceptible, exposed, infected, quarantined/hospitalized, and death individuals, by increasing the population of insusceptible/protected.

Transport and optimal control of vaccination dynamics for COVID-19

We develop a mathematical model for transferring the vaccine BNT162b2 based on the heat diffusion equation. Then, we apply optimal control theory to the proposed generalized SEIR model. We introduce vaccination for the susceptible population to control the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic. For this, we use the Pontryagin minimum principle to find the necessary optimality conditions for the optimal control. The optimal control problem and the heat diffusion equation are solved numerically. Finally, several simulations are done to study and predict the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic in Italy. In particular, we compare the model in the presence and absence of vaccination. © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Optimal control to limit the spread of COVID-19 in Italy

We apply optimal control theory to a generalized SEIR-type model. The proposed system has three controls, representing social distancing, preventive means, and treatment measures to combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. We analyze such optimal control problem with respect to real data transmission in Italy. Our results show the appropriateness of the model, in particular with respect to the number of quarantined/hospitalized (confirmed and infected) and recovered individuals. Considering the Pontryagin controls, we show how in a perfect world one could have drastically diminish the number of susceptible, exposed, infected, quarantined/hospitalized, and death individuals, by increasing the population of insusceptible/protected.