Using Quality Control Charts for Monitoring COVID-19 Daily Cases and Deaths in Türkiye

Abstract

In this study, since the nationwide partial curfews during the COVID-19 process in Türkiye began on November 18, 2020; especially for the periods between 25.11.2020-31.05.2022, the daily new cases and for the periods between 27.03.202031.05.2022, deaths and for the periods between 27.03.2020 to 04.07.2021, fatality rates are monitored by quality control charts. In this research, Run charts, EWMA control charts, and p-control charts are used for monitoring the COVID-19 process in Türkiye. In the periods of nationwide extended curfews (December 1, 2020February 28, 2021), full lockdown (April 29–May 16, 2021), and gradual normalization (May 17– May 31, 2021), the number of daily cases and deaths show downward trend as it is expected. However, in periods of the local decision-making phase (March 1–29, 2021) and revised local decision-making phase (March 30–April 13, 2021), the number of new daily cases and deaths show an upward trend. In partial lockdown period (April 14-28, 2021), while the number of daily cases shows a downward trend, the number of deaths shows an upward trend. For January 1-May 31, 2022, both the number of daily cases and deaths show an upward trend until February 2022, when they reach a peak for this month then they start to decrease gradually. Fatality rate results show that in the periods of 27.03.2020–17.11.2020, 01.12.2020–28.02.2021, 01.03.2021–29.03.2021, 29.04.2021–16.05.2021 and 01.06.2021-04.07.2021, there are uptrends or downtrends. The daily new cases/deaths and fatality rates due to COVID-19 are monitored rapidly and effectively by control charts. In the future, the risks of this pandemic could be raised again and in that case, the effects of various precautions on the number of cases or deaths could be monitored by using various quality control charts and the process could be managed logically and scientifically for Türkiye.