Conceptualization of Quarantine / Isolation Management System using Simulation and Modeling Techniques

Abstract

Covid-19 (Corona Virus Disease) has emerged as the largest pandemic in modern world, resulting in closure of normal work life and forcing people to isolate themselves from the suspected carriers of the virus. As identified by the Center of Disease Control, isolation is the most effective technique used as emergency prevention and control method. To implement the isolation of suspects, health authorities came up with the idea of a new facility which can be used for isolation of suspected virus carriers. This act of limiting the movement of virus carriers enables the authorities to control the virus spread. These facilities where suspects are being isolated are referred to as quarantine facilities. This is a specially established center, either in an existing health facility or a specially converted building, where the essential resources are present for operating the isolation wards. In advanced nations the quarantine and isolation techniques are comparatively easier to implement. While, in the developing countries, where the healthcare sources are scarce and basic medical facilities are overburden, dedicating resources to be used as a quarantine facility is challenging. These challenges can include limited resources, untrained staff, absence of management model etc. Out of these problems, we have focused to provide a solution for the management of quarantine facilities. For this purpose we are presenting a management information system. This research work proposes a system for the management of quarantine facilities. The system is named Quarantine Management System (QMS), which is capable of managing quarantine of not only Covid-19 but also other viral diseases. To present this system we have developed a conceptual model, a generic level model, and detailed models of all components including registration, disease analysis, admission, discharge and home referral. For the purpose of analysis of this system before its actual implementation, we have performed model checking techniques for the purpose of formal modeling, using the PRISM Model Checking tool. For the formal verifications of the system, we have used properties verification techniques. To support the modeling and verification, we have developed formal models of various components of system and formally verified its various properties regarding bed allocation, isolation completion, condition stability and discharge using the PRISM model checker. Along with these, we have also listed down the metadata and the pre-loaded configurations needed for the QMS system.