In this note, Prof. Elias Papaioannou, Member of ELIAMEP’s Advisory Committe, Professor at the London Business School, Visiting Fellow MIT, and Research affiliate of CEPR details a proposal for random sampling for Greece in the months to come. The proposal aims to provide much-needed information to the administration about infections and symptoms and therefore assist in the relaxation of social distancing measures. Random testing, if implemented in large sample, can also serve as an “early warning” system in the unlikely case of a second phase. First, the study builds the case for random sampling, discussing the urgent need for testing nowadays and the high social value of random tests. Second, it presents some ideas on the project implementation that aims to record both statically and dynamically infection rates, distinguishing between symptomatic and asymptomatic cases. Third, it goes over specific aspects of the proposed project’s implementation; its funding, scientific background, collaborating teams. While other countries are proceeding with similar –and almost indexical- plans, the Greek administration should not lose time. The time is up!
You may find the full text of the study (in Greek) here.
Elias Papaioannou. London Business School, Economics Department, Regent’s Park, NW1 4SA, London, United Kingdom. eliasp@london.edu ; https://sites.google.com/site/papaioannouelias/.