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Breaks and Breakouts: Explaining the Persistence of Covid-19

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  • Björn Thor Arnarson

    (University of Copenhagen)

Abstract

This paper investigates the role of large-outbreaks on the persistence of Covid-19 over time. Using data from 649 European regions in 14 countries, I first show that school-breaks in late February/early March (weeks 8, 9 and 10) led to large regional outbreaks of Covid-19 in the spring with the spread being 60% and up-to over 90% higher compared to regions with earlier breaks. While the impact of these initial large-outbreaks fades away over the summer months it systematically reappears from the fall as regions with school-breaks in weeks 8, 9 and 10 had 30-70% higher spread. This suggests that following a large-outbreak there is a strong element of underlying (latent) regional persistence of Covid-19. The strong degree of persistence highlights the long-term benefits of effective (initial) containment policies as once a large outbreak has occurred, Covid-19 persists. This results emphasizes the need for vaccinations against Covid-19 in regions that have experienced large outbreaks, but are well below herd-immunity, to avoid a new wave of cases from the fall of 2021.

Suggested Citation

  • Björn Thor Arnarson, 2021. "Breaks and Breakouts: Explaining the Persistence of Covid-19," Discussion Papers 21-02, University of Copenhagen. Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:kud:kuiedp:2102
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    File URL: https://www.economics.ku.dk/research/publications/wp/dp-2021/2102.pdf
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    covid-19; pandemic; persistence; vaccination strategy; school-breaks;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A12 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Other Disciplines
    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • H0 - Public Economics - - General
    • R0 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General
    • Z3 - Other Special Topics - - Tourism Economics

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