Vaccination and testing as a means of ending the COVID-19 pandemic: comparative and statistical analysis

ABSTRACT Background Record numbers of new cases and deaths registered in Japan and European countries in early 2022 once again proved that existing vaccines cannot stop the new infections and deaths caused by SARS-CoV-2 and aroused new questions about methods of overcoming the pandemic. Aim of the study to compare the pandemic waves in Japan, Ukraine, USA, Hong Kong, mainland China, European and African countries in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to investigate the influence of testing and vaccination levels. Methods The smoothed daily numbers of new cases and deaths per capita, the ratio of these characteristics and the non-linear correlation with the tests per case ratio were used. Results As in other countries, the deaths per case ratio in Japan decreases with the increase of the vaccination level. Non-linear correlation revealed, that the daily number of new cases drastically decreases with the increase of the tests per case ratio. Conclusions Increasing the level of testing (especially for people who may have contact with infected persons) and adhering to quarantine restrictions for the entire population, including vaccinated people, may be recommended to end the pandemic.