Daily Forecasting of New Cases for Regional Epidemics of Coronavirus Disease 2019 with Bayesian Uncertainty Quantification

Abstract

To increase situational awareness and support evidence-based policy-making, we formulated a mathematical model for COVID-19 transmission within a regional population. This compartmental model accounts for quarantine, self-isolation, social distancing, a non-exponentially distributed incubation period, asymptomatic individuals, and mild and severe forms of symptomatic disease. Using Bayesian inference, we have been calibrating region-specific models daily for consistency with new reports of confirmed cases from the 15 most populous metropolitan statistical areas in the United States and quantifying uncertainty in parameter estimates and predictions of future case reports. This online learning approach allows for early identification of new trends despite considerable variability in case reporting.

Article summary line: We report models for regional COVID-19 epidemics and use of Bayesian inference to quantify uncertainty in daily predictions of expected reporting of new cases, enabling identification of new trends in surveillance data.