Sensitivity Analysis of Pandemic Models Can Support Effective Policy Decisions

The COVID-19 pandemic has required international scientific efforts to address important aspects of the pandemic. Data science and scientific modeling are extensively used to provide assessments and predictions for policy-making purposes. However, resulting communications need to be supported by a proper uncertainty quantification to assess variability in model predictions, by the identification of the key-uncertainty drivers. This information can be provided by statisticians with sensitivity analysis methods. Knowing the drivers of uncertainty supports effective policy-making. Concerning the COVID-19 pandemic diffusion, two recent investigations reveal intervention-related parameters as more important than epidemiological parameters in two different modeling exercises. This result can help prioritize policy decisions.