The team took a scenario-based approach that focused on simulating the relative effectiveness of the above-mentioned interventions in the settlement. The study adapted the JUNE epidemic model to the settlement setting. This led the researchers to explore various mitigation strategies. Researchers also established that handling of positive cases in isolation and treatment centres have little impact on the spread of COVID-19 in comparison to home isolation for individuals with mild symptoms, mainly due to the exceptionally high population density in the settlement and many facilities being communal that poses increased risk of coronavirus transmission.įurthermore, at the time of the study, the simulation results indicated that the reopening of learning centres could lead to a higher infection rate in the refugee settlement, where social distancing is nearly impossible.

The researchers analysed a number of operational interventions by modelling the interactions of over 900,000 Rohingya refugees and found that mask wearing is highly effective to slow the spread of COVID-19. Academics and data scientists from Durham University and UN Global Pulse (UNGP) have developed an agent-based model to simulate the spread of COVID-19 in the Cox’s Bazar refugee settlement in Bangladesh.

Sim settlements city leaders