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Fuzzy fractional mathematical model of COVID-19 epidemic

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Padmapriya, V.a; b; * | Kaliyappan, M.c

Affiliations: [a] Research Scholar, Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai Campus, India | [b] New Prince Shri Bhavani Arts and Sciences College, Chennai, India | [c] Division of Mathematics, School of Advanced Sciences, Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai Campus, India

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author. V. Padmapriya, Research Scholar, Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai Campus, India. E-mail: [email protected].

Keywords: Fuzzy triangular number, fuzzy fractional derivative, Caputo derivative, COVID-19, Mathematical model

DOI: 10.3233/JIFS-211173

Journal: Journal of Intelligent & Fuzzy Systems, vol. 42, no. 4, pp. 3299-3321, 2022

Published: 04 March 2022
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Abstract

In this paper, we develop a mathematical model with a Caputo fractional derivative under fuzzy sense for the prediction of COVID-19. We present numerical results of the mathematical model for COVID-19 of most three infected countries such as the USA, India and Italy. Using the proposed model, we estimate predicting future outbreaks, the effectiveness of preventive measures and potential control strategies of the infection. We provide a comparative study of the proposed model with Ahmadian’s fuzzy fractional mathematical model. The results demonstrate that our proposed fuzzy fractional model gives a nearer forecast to the actual data. The present study can confirm the efficiency and applicability of the fractional derivative under uncertainty conditions to mathematical epidemiology.

1Introduction

A novel coronavirus is an infectious disease. In December 2019, the first case of coronavirus (COVID-19) was reported in Wuhan, China. This virus spread rapidly around China and many different nations [1]. The World Health Organization (WHO) named the epidemic disease as SARS-CoV-2 which was caused by 2019-nCoV on 11 February 2020 [2, 3]. On 11 March 2020, WHO announced COVID-19 a pandemic by seeing its spread and risk to human life on the earth [4]. On January 30, 2020, 7734 total confirmed cases have been reached in China and 90 confirmed cases have been reached in other 13 countries together with the United States, India, Germany, France, Canada, and United Arab Emirates [5, 6]. As of July 31, 2020, 17,106,007 confirmed cases with 668,910 deaths have been reported globally [7].

This virus spread from person to person through direct conduct with contaminated surfaces and via the inward breath of respiratory droplets from contaminated persons [8]. To avoid the spread of COVID-19, the government has been imposing different control measures such as lockdowns, banning travel, closing schools and workplaces, limiting the size of gatherings, maintain social distancing, washing hands regularly, and use a mask publically. To additionally help in relieving the spread of COVID-19, contact tracing of suspected contaminated cases has been stepped up in many countries and asymptomatic and symptomatic cases are immediately position in isolation for brief treatment.

Mathematical models are a very important tool to analyze the behavior of infection and forecast the outbreak of infection [9–11]. In recent times, several researchers have been developed many mathematical models for the population dynamics of COVID-19 [12–18]. The fractional-order model has produced better results in real-world phenomena than classical order models due to hereditary properties and the description of memory [19, 20]. Moreover, the fractional-order model gives a degree of freedom in fitting the data [21]. Recently a lot of researchers are investigating mathematical models of COVID-19 involving fractional order. Khan et al. [22] provided mathematical modeling of coronavirus (2019-nCoV) based on the Atangana-Balenau fractional derivative. Shaikh et al. [23] formulated a numerical model of COVID-19 under Caputo-Fabrizio fractional derivative to evaluate the effectiveness of precautionary measures and forecasting outbreaks. In [24], a fractional dynamic system with time delay is formulated to estimate the outbreak of COVID-19. Tuan et al. [25] investigated the dynamic model for COVID-19 under fractional derivative with Caputo sense. In [26], the authors formulated the SEIRD model under fractional derivative to investigate the outbreak of COVID-19 in Italy.

In the dynamic models cited above, the researchers used constant parameters. In general, they assumed that each person could spread the disease and recover from it at a constant rate. However, these assumptions conflicted with the reality of the outbreak. Moreover, some humans do not want to be declared their infected information and some humans do not be aware of they are infected. In that case, the parameters of the dynamic model such as transmission rate, recovery rate, and death rate are uncertain. To overcome this situation, L.A. Zadeh introduced fuzzy sets in 1965 [27]. In mathematical models, fuzzy numbers are a useful tool for representing uncertainty and interpreting imprecise or subjective data. Many researchers have been applied this fuzzy number to a wide range of real-world problems such as fuzzy transportation problems [28], fuzzy linear programming problems [29–31], fuzzy integro-differential equations [32, 33]. Allaoui et al. [34] analyzed a mathematical model for the epidemic prediction of COVID-19 involving fuzzy parameters. Very recently, Ahmadian et al. [35] discussed the dynamical model of COVID-19 under a fuzzy fractional derivative for China.

Motivated by means of the above beneficial purposes of fractional operators with uncertainty, in this present work, we analyze the mathematical model suggested by Allaoui et al. [34] under fractional derivative with fuzzy parameters. The main aim of this paper is to investigate the mathematical model to find out about forecasting the outbreak of coronavirus in the three most infected countries in the world such as the USA, India, and Italy. The main work has been done by ourselves in this paper which is mentioned below:

  • 1. The prediction of cumulative Infected cases, Susceptible cases, Exposed cases, and Recovered cases of COVID-19 for 10 months at different values of fractional derivative have been estimated.

  • 2. Stability analysis has been provided for this model in fuzzy fractional environment.

  • 3. Our proposed model is compared with the fuzzy fractional model suggested by Ahmadian et al. [35]. The results are compared and elucidated in detail.

This paper is organized as follows. Some important results and concepts of fuzzy and fractional calculus are recalled in Section 2. The mathematical model under fuzzy fractional derivative for COVID-19 and numerical solutions are presented in Section 3. The stability analysis of the solution of the proposed model is given in Section 4. The comparison results of our suggested model with the fuzzy fractional model suggested by Ahmadian et al. [35] are provided in Section 5. Numerical results and limitations are given in Sections 6 and 7. The conclusion is drawn in Section 8.

2Preliminaries

In this section, we present some fundamental definitions and result from fuzzy calculus and fractional calculus [29, 36–39].

2.1Definition [36]

Let the function u:ℝ→[0,1] be a fuzzy number that satisfies the following properties:

  • (1) u is normal, i.e, ∃x0∈ℝ for which u (x0) = 1.

  • (2) u is upper semi-continuous.

  • (3) u is fuzzy convex, i.e u (λx+ (1 - λ) y) ≥ min { u (x) , u (y) } for all x,y∈ℝ,λ∈[0,1].

  • (4) u is compactly supported. i.e supp(u)={x∈ℝ|u(x)>0} is compact.

Here the real numbers set is denoted by ℝ .

2.2Definition [36]

A fuzzy number is represented by the parametric form (ur_,ur¯),0≤r≤1 that satisfies the following necessities:

  • (1) ur_ is an increasing bounded function and also ur¯ is a decreasing bounded function over [0,1].

  • (2) ur_ is a continuous function at left and ur¯ is a continuous function at right over [0,1].

  • (3) ur_≤ur¯,0≤r≤1 .

E represent the fuzzy numbers set with addition and multiplication.

The difference between two fuzzy numbers u=(ur_,ur¯) and v=(vr_,vr¯) is defined by

D(u,v)=sup0≤r≤1{max{|ur_-vr_|,|ur¯-vr¯|}}

2.3Definition [36]

Let u,v∈E . If there exits w∈E such that u = v + w, then w is called as H-difference of u and v and it is denoted by u ⊖ v.

2.4Definition [29, 37]

If A is a triangular fuzzy number then its membership function is defined by

μA(x)={0  if  x≤x1x-x1x2-x1  if  x1<x≤x2x-x3x2-x3  if  x2<x≤x30  if  x>x3
where x1, x2, x3 are real numbers with x1 ≤ x2 ≤ x3 and fuzzy number A is denoted by A = (x1 ; x2 ; x3). The r- levels of the fuzzy number A has the following form [Ar_,Ar¯]=[(x2-x1)r+x1,(x2-x3)r+x3] for all r ∈ [0, 1].

2.5Theorem [36]

Consider F:[a,b]→E be the continuous fuzzy valued function which is denoted by [Fr_(s),Fr¯(s)] for each r ∈ [0, 1], then ∫abF(s)ds exists, belongs to E . Fr_(s) and Fr¯(s) are integrable function on [a, b] and

[∫abF(s)ds]r=[∫abFr_(s)ds,∫abFr¯(s)ds]

2.6Definition [36]

Consider F:[a,b]→E and s0 ∈ (a, b). F is said to be generalized differentiable at s0 if there is an element F′(s0)∈E and

  • 1. The H-differences F(s0+η)⊖F(s0) , F(s0)⊖F(s0-η) exist, for each η > 0 tends to 0 sufficiently and

    limη→0F(s0+η)⊖F(s0)η=F′(s0)   =limη→0F(s0)⊖F(s0-η)η

  • 2. The H-differences F(s0)⊖F(s0+η) , F(s0-η)⊖F(s0) exist, for each η > 0 tends to 0 sufficiently and

limη→0F(s0)⊖F(s0+η)-η=F′(s0)   =limη→0F(s0-η)⊖F(s0)-η

2.7Theorem [38]

Consider F:[a,b]→E be a fuzzy function and also [F(s)]r=[Fr_(s),Fr¯(s)] for 0 ≤ r ≤ 1.

  • 1. When F is 1st - type differentiable on [a, b], Fr_ and Fr¯ are differentiable and also [F′(s)]r=[F′_r(s),Fr′¯(s)]

  • 2. When F is 2nd - type differentiable on [a, b], Fr_ and Fr¯ are differentiable and also [F′(s)]r=[F′¯r(s),F′_r(s)]

Now, the concept of the Caputo fuzzy fractional derivative about order 0 < α ≤ 1 is defined by Salahshour et al. [36].

2.8Definition [36]

Assume that F:[a,b]→E and F∈CF[a,b]∩LF[a,b] , where 0 < α ≤ 1. Then we can say F is a Caputo’s H-differentiable at s when

(DCαℱ)(𝓈)=1Γ(1−α)∫a𝓈ℱ'(t)(𝓈−t)αdt,   0<α≤1

Also if F is 1st - type differentiable, then we call F as Caputo 1st - type differentiable and if F is 2nd - type differentiable, then we call F as Caputo 2nd - type differentiable, where CF [a, b] and LF [a, b] are the spaces of fuzzy continuous functions and fuzzy Lebesque integrable functions on [a, b] respectively.

2.9Theorem [36]

Consider 0 < α ≤ 1 and F(s)∈CF[a,b] , then the fuzzy Caputo’s fractional derivative is defined by

[(DCαℱ)(𝓈)]r=[1Γ(1−α)∫a𝓈ℱ_'r(t)(𝓈−t)αdt,1Γ(1−α)∫a𝓈ℱ¯'r(t)(𝓈−t)αdt ]
for 1st - type differentiable.
[(CDαF)(s)]r=[1Γ(1-α)∫asFr′¯(t)(s-t)αdt,1Γ(1-α)∫asF′_r(t)(s-t)αdt]
for 2nd - type differentiable.

3Fuzzy fractional model

In this present work, we investigate the SEIR model proposed by Allaoui et al. [34]. In this model, the total population is divided into four compartments: Susceptible cases (S), Exposed cases (E), Infected cases (I), Removed cases (R), and also N represent the total population, where N = S + E + I + R. The authors presented the transmission model for the COVID-19 pandemic in the sense of ordinary derivatives as follows.

(1)
{S′(t)=-μNS(t)(βE(t)+I(t))E′(t)=μNS(t)(βE(t)+I(t))-γE(t)I′(t)=γE(t)-σI(t)R′(t)=σI(t)

where

μ= transmission rate of infected people.

γ= per-capita infectious rate.

σ= per-capita death rate.

Also, the author investigated this model with fuzzy parameters in [34]. Numerical models with non-integer operators give a better understanding of phenomena. Now, we replace the ordinary derivative with the Caputo fractional derivative under fuzzy sense in the model (1). Then we propose a system of a fuzzy fractional differential equation as follows.

(2)
{cDαS˜(t)=−μ˜NS˜(t)(β˜E˜(t)+I˜(t))cDαE˜(t)=μ˜NS˜(t)(β˜E˜(t)+I˜(t))−γ˜E˜(t)cDαI˜(t)=γ˜E˜(t)−σ˜I˜(t)cDαR˜(t)=σ˜I˜(t)

where, for r ∈ [0, 1]

[S˜(t)]r=[S_r(t),S¯r(t)][E˜(t)]r=[E_r(t),E¯r(t)][I˜(t)]r=[I_r(t),I¯r(t)][R˜(t)]r=[R_r(t),R¯r(t)]

The total infected, deaths, and recovered cases of COVID-19 for three countries up to July 31, 2020, are presented in Table 1 which are collected from the website https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus [40].

Table 1

Number of infected, deaths and recovered cases of Covid-19 up to July 31, 2020

Total casesUSAIndiaItaly
Infected4,707,0991,697,054247,537
Deaths156,77136,55135,141
Recovered2,327,5721,095,647199,974

In this research, we will consider the initial parameter in Table 2.

Table 2

The initial value of parameters for the model

Initial ParametersUSAIndiaItaly
Population (N)331,002,6511,380,004,38560,461,826
S(0) (0.8 × N)264,802,1201,104,003,50848,369,460
I(0)4,707,0991,697,054247,537
R(0)2,327,5721,095,647199,974
E(0)59,165,860273,208,17611,644,855
σ0.0330.0210.141
γ0.0790.0060.021

The initial parameters for the fuzzy fractional model can be written as the following triangular fuzzy number:

For the USA

S(0)=(264,702,120; 264,802,120; 264,902,120)E(0)=(59,065,860; 59,165,860; 59,265,860)I(0)=(4,706,599; 4,707,099; 4,707,599)R(0)=(2,327,472; 2,327,572; 2,327,672)γ=(0.069; 0.079; 0.089),σ=(0.023;0.033; 0.043),μ=(2.1;2.2;2.3) and β=(0.036;0.037;0.038)

For r ∈ [0, 1], r- cuts are defined by

[S(0)]r=[264,702,120+100,000r;264,902,120-100,000r][E(0)]r=[59,065,860+100,000r;59,265,860-100,000r][I(0)]r=[4,706,599+500r; 4,707,599-500r][R(0)]r=[2,327,472+100r; 2,327,672-100r][γ]r=[0.069+0.01r;0.089-0.01r][σ]r=[0.023+0.010r;0.043-0.010r][μ]r=[2.1+0.1r;2.3-0.1r] and[β]r=[0.036+0.001r;0.038-0.001r]

For India

S(0)=(1,103,003,508; 1,104,003,508; 1,105,003,508)E(0)=(273,108,176; 273,208,176; 273,308,176)I(0)=(1,696,554; 1,697,054; 1,697,554)R(0)=(1,095,547; 1,095,647; 1,095,747)γ=(0.005; 0.006; 0.007),σ=(0.011; 0.021; 0.031)

For r ∈ [0, 1], r- cuts are defined by

[S(0)]r=[1,103,003,508+1,000,000r;1,105,003,508-1,000,000r][E(0)]r=[273,108,176+100,000r;273,308,176-100,000r][I(0)]r=[1,696,554+500r;1,697,554-500r][R(0)]r=[1,095,547+100r;1,095,747-100r][γ]r=[0.005+0.001r;0.007-0.001r][σ]r=[0.011+0.01r;0.031-0.01r]

For Italy

S(0)=(48,269,460; 48,369,460; 48,469,460)E(0)=(11,544,855; 11,644,855; 11,744,855)I(0)=(247,037; 247,537; 248,037)R(0)=(199,874; 199,974; 200,074)γ=(0.019; 0.021; 0.023)σ=(0.131; 0.141; 0.151)

For r ∈ [0, 1], r- cuts are defined by

[S(0)]r=[48,269,460+100,000r;48,469,460-100,000r][E(0)]r=[11,544,855+100,000r;11,744,855-100,000r][I(0)]r=[247,037+500r;248,037-500r][R(0)]r=[199,874+100r;200,074-100r][γ]r=[0.019+0.002r;0.023-0.002r][σ]r=[0.131+0.01r;0.151-0.01r]

Figures 1(a)–4(f), 5(a)–8(f) and 9(a)–12(f) show the predictions of Infected people, Exposed people, Suspectible people, and Recovered people over the 10 months for USA, India, and Italy for distinct values of r with α = 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1 respectively. In Fig. 1(a)-1(f), we plotted numerical results of Infected people of USA for some fractional order α = 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1 with different values of r which demonstrates that the cumulative number of Infected cases decreases when fractional-order α decreases. In Fig. 5(a)-5(f), we plotted numerical results of infected people of India for some fractional order α = 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1 with different values of r which shows that as the non-integer order α goes down, the increment of infection is also reduced. Similarly, Fig. 9(a)-9(f) shows that as the fractional order α decrease, the cumulative number of infected people in Italy gets lower. Tables 3–5 shows the predicted number of infected cases in USA for the months January, March, and May. Similarly, Tables 6–8 shows the predicted number of infected cases in India for the months January, March, and May. The prediction of the number of infected cases in Italy for the months January, March, and May is provided in Tables 9–11.

Fig. 1

Numerical results of the number of Infected cases I (t) in USA for some values of fractional order and distinct values of r = 0,  0.2,  0.4,  0.6,  0.8,  1.0 from August 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021.

Numerical results of the number of Infected cases I (t) in USA for some values of fractional order and distinct values of r = 0,  0.2,  0.4,  0.6,  0.8,  1.0 from August 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021.
Fig. 2

Numerical results of the number of Exposed cases E (t) in USA for some values of fractional order and distinct values of r = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 from August 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021.

Numerical results of the number of Exposed cases E (t) in USA for some values of fractional order and distinct values of r = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 from August 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021.
Fig. 3

Numerical results of the number of Susceptible cases S (t) in USA for some values of fractional order and distinct values of r = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 from August 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021.

Numerical results of the number of Susceptible cases S (t) in USA for some values of fractional order and distinct values of r = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 from August 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021.
Fig. 4

Numerical results of the number of Recovered cases R (t) in USA for some values of fractional order and distinct values of r = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 from August 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021.

Numerical results of the number of Recovered cases R (t) in USA for some values of fractional order and distinct values of r = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 from August 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021.
Fig. 5

Numerical results of the number of Infected cases I (t) in INDIA for some values of fractional order and distinct values of r = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 from August 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021.

Numerical results of the number of Infected cases I (t) in INDIA for some values of fractional order and distinct values of r = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 from August 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021.
Fig. 6

Numerical results of the number of Exposed cases E (t) in INDIA for some values of fractional order and distinct values of r = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 from August 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021.

Numerical results of the number of Exposed cases E (t) in INDIA for some values of fractional order and distinct values of r = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 from August 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021.
Fig. 7

Numerical results of the number of Susceptible cases S (t) in INDIA for some values of fractional order and distinct values of r = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 from August 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021.

Numerical results of the number of Susceptible cases S (t) in INDIA for some values of fractional order and distinct values of r = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 from August 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021.
Fig. 8

Numerical results of the number of Recovered cases R (t) in INDIA for some values of fractional order and distinct values of r = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 from August 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021.

Numerical results of the number of Recovered cases R (t) in INDIA for some values of fractional order and distinct values of r = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 from August 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021.
Fig. 9

Numerical results of the number of Infected cases I (t) in ITALY for some values of fractional order and distinct values of r = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 from August 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021.

Numerical results of the number of Infected cases I (t) in ITALY for some values of fractional order and distinct values of r = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 from August 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021.
Fig. 10

Numerical results of the number of Exposed cases E (t) in ITALY for some values of fractional order and distinct values of r = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 from August 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021.

Numerical results of the number of Exposed cases E (t) in ITALY for some values of fractional order and distinct values of r = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 from August 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021.
Fig. 11

Numerical results of the number of Susceptible cases S (t) in ITALY for some values of fractional order and distinct values of r = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 from August 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021.

Numerical results of the number of Susceptible cases S (t) in ITALY for some values of fractional order and distinct values of r = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 from August 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021.
Fig. 12

Numerical results of the number of Recovered cases R (t) in ITALY for some values of fractional order and distinct values of r = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 from August 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021.

Numerical results of the number of Recovered cases R (t) in ITALY for some values of fractional order and distinct values of r = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 from August 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021.
Table 3

Predicted cumulative number of Infected cases I (t) in USA until January 31, 2021

t = 6 α = 0.7 α = 0.8 α = 0.9 α = 1
I_(×107) I¯(×107) I_(×107) I¯(×107) I_(×107) I¯(×107) I_(×107) I¯(×107)
r = 03.22204.42393.78965.26344.41366.18395.08687.1725
r = 0.23.32364.28333.91365.09044.56215.97565.26146.9265
r = 0.43.42714.14564.04024.92114.71375.77185.43966.6860
r = 0.63.53274.01084.16934.75564.86845.57265.62146.4509
r = 0.83.64033.87904.30104.59375.02645.37785.80716.2212
r = 13.75013.75014.43544.43545.18755.18755.99675.9967
Table 4

Predicted cumulative number of Infected cases I (t) in USA until March 31, 2021

t = 8 α = 0.7 α = 0.8 α = 0.9 α = 1
I_(×107) I¯(×107) I_(×107) I¯(×107) I_(×107) I¯(×107) I_(×107) I¯(×107)
r = 04.43796.33405.56498.07056.913610.1568.497012.609
r = 0.24.59646.11045.77347.77417.18249.77208.837012.121
r = 0.44.75855.89215.98707.48497.45819.39709.186011.644
r = 0.64.92455.67906.20587.20297.74089.03109.544011.180
r = 0.85.09435.47106.43006.92788.03078.67509.911010.728
r = 15.26815.26816.65976.65978.32798.328010.28810.288
Table 5

Predicted cumulative number of Infected cases I (t) in USA until May 31, 2021

t = 10 α = 0.7 α = 0.8 α = 0.9 α = 1
I_(×107) I¯(×107) I_(×107) I¯(×107) I_(×107) I¯(×107) I_(×107) I¯(×107)
r = 05.86358.62357.792211.67810.26915.62813.39120.633
r = 0.26.09278.29688.113611.21710.71114.99113.98719.771
r = 0.46.32807.97838.444010.76811.16614.37114.60018.932
r = 0.66.56947.66808.783410.33011.63413.76715.23218.116
r = 0.86.81717.36569.13229.905012.11513.18015.88317.323
r = 17.07127.07129.49069.491012.61012.61016.55216.552
Table 6

Predicted cumulative number of Infected cases I (t) in INDIA until January 31, 2021

t = 6 α = 0.7 α = 0.8 α = 0.9 α = 1
I_(×107) I¯(×107) I_(×107) I¯(×107) I_(×107) I¯(×107) I_(×107) I¯(×107)
r = 00.790481.05910.90241.22161.02641.40181.16251.5993
r = 0.20.813781.02790.92991.18441.05861.35781.19971.5478
r = 0.40.837090.99720.95741.14761.09071.31431.23691.4970
r = 0.60.860420.96680.98491.11131.12291.27141.27421.4470
r = 0.80.883760.93681.01251.07551.15511.22911.31141.3975
r = 10.907130.90711.04011.04011.18731.18731.34881.3488
Table 7

Predicted cumulative number of Infected cases I (t) in INDIA March 31, 2021

t = 8 α = 0.7 α = 0.8 α = 0.9 α = 1
I_(×107) I¯(×107) I_(×107) I¯(×107) I_(×107) I¯(×107) I_(×107) I¯(×107)
r = 00.96561.32131.14721.59011.35941.90511.60502.2705
r = 0.20.99581.27931.18431.53731.40461.83951.65962.1899
r = 0.41.02591.23791.22151.48521.45001.77491.71452.1106
r = 0.61.05621.19701.25871.43391.49551.71131.76952.0325
r = 0.81.08651.15671.29611.38341.54121.64861.82471.9557
r = 11.11691.11691.33361.33361.58701.58701.88021.8802
Table 8

Predicted cumulative number of Infected cases I (t) in INDIA until May 31, 2021

t = 10 α = 0.7 α = 0.8 α = 0.9 α = 1
I_(×107) I¯(×107) I_(×107) I¯(×107) I_(×107) I¯(×107) I_(×107) I¯(×107)
r = 01.14331.59171.40721.98901.73012.47812.12153.0738
r = 0.21.18061.53791.45491.91851.79072.38662.19762.9563
r = 0.41.21801.48501.50281.84921.85152.29672.27422.8409
r = 0.61.25551.43291.55091.78091.91262.20822.35132.7275
r = 0.81.29321.38161.59921.71381.97412.12132.42892.6162
r = 11.33101.33101.64781.64782.03602.03602.50702.5070
Table 9

Predicted cumulative number of Infected cases I (t) in ITALY until January 31, 2021

t = 6 α = 0.7 α = 0.8 α = 0.9 α = 1
I_(×106) I¯(×106) I_(×106) I¯(×106) I_(×106) I¯(×106) I_(×106) I¯(×106)
r = 01.03401.29491.17301.48521.32551.69391.49081.9196
r = 0.21.05551.26381.19861.44791.35551.64961.52551.8678
r = 0.41.07741.23331.22461.41111.38601.60601.56071.8168
r = 0.61.09951.20321.25091.37501.41681.56321.59641.7668
r = 0.81.12191.17371.27751.33951.44811.52111.63261.7176
r = 11.14461.14461.30461.30461.47981.47981.66941.6694
Table 10

Predicted cumulative number of Infected cases I (t) in ITALY until March 31, 2021

t = 8 α = 0.7 α = 0.8 α = 0.9 α = 1
I_(×106) I¯(×106) I_(×106) I¯(×106) I_(×106) I¯(×106) I_(×106) I¯(×106)
r = 01.27421.64291.51261.98161.79122.37942.11232.8399
r = 0.21.30441.59881.55071.92521.83872.30842.17072.7516
r = 0.41.33511.55541.58951.86981.88712.23872.23022.6651
r = 0.61.36621.51291.62901.81551.93642.17042.29092.5804
r = 0.81.39791.47111.66911.76221.98662.10342.35282.4973
r = 11.43011.43011.71001.71002.03772.03772.41602.4160
Table 11

Predicted cumulative number of Infected cases I(t) in ITALY until May 31, 2021

t = 10 α = 0.7 α = 0.8 α = 0.9 α = 1
I_(×106) I¯(×106) I_(×106) I¯(×106) I_(×106) I¯(×106) I_(×106) I¯(×106)
r = 01.53592.03091.90682.57272.36763.25222.93274.0920
r = 0.21.57631.97161.96082.49272.43923.14583.02633.9525
r = 0.41.61741.91352.01612.41442.51253.04173.12223.8159
r = 0.61.65941.85652.07252.33772.58742.93983.22033.6823
r = 0.81.70221.80062.13012.26252.66402.84003.32093.5516
r = 11.74581.74582.18892.18892.74232.74233.42383.4238

From Tables 6, 7, and 8, we can observe that the number of people infected with COIVD-19 predicted for the end of months January, March, and May for India might be as high as between 0.9024 × 107 and 1.2216 × 107 at α = 0.8, between 0.9656 × 107 and 1.3213 × 107 at α = 0.7 and between 2.1215 × 107 and 3.0738 × 107 at α = 1. From this, the predicted values of infected cases for India obtained by our proposed model are much closed to the actual data. Similarly, we can see that the predicted number of infected cases with COIVD-19 for the end of months January, March, and May for other two countries USA and Italy are extremely close to the actual data. As a result, our proposed model is well-trained and capable of predicting novel coronaviruses in the future.

From the outcomes of figures and tables referenced here, we can express that as the fractional derivative order α decrease, the number of infected people decrease significantly. Moreover, the fuzzy fractional derivative model gives more accurate results than the classical derivative model and permits better examine the obtained results.

4Stability analysis

The equilibrium points are found by setting DtαS˜(t)=0,DtαE˜(t)=0,DtαI˜(t)=0,DtαR˜(t)=0 .

i.e, -μ˜NS˜(t)(β˜E˜(t)+I˜(t))=0μ˜NS˜(t)(β˜E˜(t)+I˜(t))-γ˜E˜(t)=0
γ˜E˜(t)-σ˜I˜(t)=0σ˜I˜(t)=0

This implies, we have I˜(t)=E˜(t)=0 .

The Jacobian matrix of model (2) can be computed as follows.

(-μ˜N(β˜E˜(t)+I˜(t))   -μ˜β˜NS˜(t)   -μ˜NS˜(t)   0μ˜N(β˜E˜(t)+I˜(t))   μ˜β˜NS˜(t)-γ˜   μ˜NS˜(t)   00   γ˜   -σ˜   00   0   σ˜   0)

The Jacobian matrix at the equilibrium point is given by

J=(0   -μ˜β˜NS˜(t)   -μ˜NS˜(t)   00   μ˜β˜NS˜(t)-γ˜   μ˜NS˜(t)   00   γ˜   -σ˜   00   0   σ˜   0)

The characteristic equation of the matrix J is obtained by

(3)
λ2(λ2+Aλ+B)=0

Where, A=γ˜-μ˜β˜NS˜(t)+σ˜

B=γ˜σ˜-μ˜β˜σ˜NS˜(t)-μ˜γ˜NS˜(t)

On substituting the values of all parameters and solving the characteristic Equation (3), we obtain eigenvalues that are λ1 = λ2 = 0 and the roots of the equation λ2 + Aλ + B = 0.

Since the two roots of the equation λ2 + Aλ + B = 0 are negative, the system is asymptotically stable.

5Comparison of results

In this section, we compare our model with Ahmadian’s fuzzy fractional model of coronavirus in [35] which is based on the fractional model in [23].

(4)
{DtαS˜(t)=Δ-λS˜-ωS˜(I˜+βA˜)NγS˜Q˜DtαE˜(t)=ωS˜(I˜+βA˜)N+γS˜Q˜-(1-φ)δE˜-φμE˜-λE˜DtαI˜(t)=(1-φ)δE˜-(σ+λ)I˜DtαA˜(t)=φμE˜-(ρ+λ)A˜DtαR˜(t)=σI˜+ρA˜-λR˜DtαQ˜(t)=κI˜+υA˜-ηQ˜

where N represents the whole variety of people, N is isolated into five-compartment: Susceptible cases (S), Exposed cases (E), Infected cases (I), Asymptotically infected cases (A) and Eliminated or Recovered cases (R). The human beings in the store or market are represented by Q. For r ∈ [0, 1]

[S˜(t)]r=[S_r(t),S¯r(t)][E˜(t)]r=[E_r(t),E¯r(t)][I˜(t)]r=[I_r(t),I¯r(t)][A˜(t)]r=[A¯r(t),A¯r(t)][R˜(t)]r=[R_r(t),R¯r(t)][Q˜(t)]r=[Q_r(t),Q¯r(t)]

Here, we analyze model (4) for India. For this, we reflect on consideration on all parametric values from the literature [23] where the following data are considered from March 14, 2020, till March 26, 2020.

The whole population of India N = 1, 352, 600, 000, E (0) = 1, 724, 266, I (0) = 745, A (0) = 413, R (0) = 66, S (0) = 1, 350, 900, 000 and Q (0) = 10, 000. The parameter values are Δ = 53, 320.19, λ=169.50×365 , ω = 0.05, β = 0.02844, δ = 0.0717876, μ = 0.05, φ = 0.8243, γ = 0.121 × 10-7, σ = 0.09871, ρ = 0.854302, κ = 0.000398, υ = 0.001 and η = 0.01 r- levels for the initial parameters are defined by

[S(0)]r=[1,350,800,000+100,000r;1,351,000,000-100,000r][E(0)]r=[1,624,266+100,000r;1,824,266-100,000r][I(0)]r=[645+100r;845-100r][A(0)]r=[313+100r;513-100r][R(0)]r=[56+10r;76-10r][Q(0)]r=[9900+100r;10,100-100r]

6Numerical results and discussion

In Fig. 13(a) and 13(b), we have plotted numerical results of infected cases of Ahmadian’s model (4) for India at α = 1 and α = 0.9 with different values of r. Table 12 shows the comparison between the numerical solution of infected cases of COVID-19 for our proposed model (2) and Ahmadian’s model (4).

Fig. 13

Numerical results of the number of Infected people I (t) in INDIA for some values of fractional order and distinct values of r = 0,  0.2,  0.4,  0.6,  0.8,  1.0 up to mid-Nov 2020.

Numerical results of the number of Infected people I (t) in INDIA for some values of fractional order and distinct values of r = 0,  0.2,  0.4,  0.6,  0.8,  1.0 up to mid-Nov 2020.
Table 12

Comparison between the numerical solution of infected people of the proposed model and Ahmadian’s model for India

t (month)Our proposed model (r = 0)t (days)Ahmadian’s model (r = 0)
α = 1 [I_(τ),I¯(τ)] α = 0.9 [I_(τ),I¯(τ)] α = 1 [I_(τ),I¯(τ)] α = 0.9 [I_(τ),I¯(τ)]
1[3.0833 × 106, 3.6234 × 106][3.1451 × 106, 3.7110 × 106]150[1.8801 × 107, 3.7915 × 107][5.5340 × 106, 1.1314 × 107]
2[4.5589 × 106, 5.6972 × 106][4.4873 × 106, 5.6012 × 106]180[3.4366 × 107, 6.8303 × 107][9.4863 × 106, 1.9250 × 107]
3[6.1371 × 106, 7.9449 × 106][5.8485 × 106, 7.5439 × 106]210[5.6988 × 107, 1.1194 × 108][1.4997 × 107, 3.0157 × 107]
4[7.8317 × 106, 1.0393 × 107][7.2557 × 106, 9.5793 × 106]240[8.8004 × 107, 1.7126 × 108][2.2288 × 107, 4.4432 × 107]

The reported cases and fitted curve of the proposed model for COVID-19 in India from August 2020 to May 2021 for α = 0.8 at r = 0 are plotted in Fig. 14. Figure 14 shows that the numerical results of the proposed model (2) correspond well with the real data for α = 0.8. In Table 12, the proposed model gives that the prediction of cumulative infected cases in India at the end of November may reach between 7.2557 × 106 and 9.5793 × 106 for α = 0.9 and also 7.8317 × 106 and 1.0393 × 107 for α = 1. But Ahmadian’s model gives that the prediction of cumulative infected cases in India at the end of November may reach between 2.2288 × 107and 4.4432 × 107 for α = 0.9 and also 8.8004 × 107 and 1.7126 × 108 for α = 1. So, we can see that our proposed model offers better prediction effects of infected cases than Ahmadian’s model. The main advantage of our proposed model is that our mathematical model contains fewer parameters compare to Ahmadian’s model. So, we have less computation work. Also, our model gives a superior fit to the actual data. We truly hope that our model could help the decision-making of epidemic prevention and control strategy for governments of different countries in COVID-19. The Government of India has forced 21 days cross country lockdown from 25 March 2020 and asymptomatic and symptomatic cases are quickly position in isolation. The impact of these prevention measures suggests that the spread of the virus can be decreased significantly.

Fig. 14

The Reported cases from August 1, 2020, to March 15, 2021, and the fitted curve of the proposed model for COVID-19 in India from August 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021, dashed-dotted line represents Reported cases and solid line represents fitted curve.

The Reported cases from August 1, 2020, to March 15, 2021, and the fitted curve of the proposed model for COVID-19 in India from August 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021, dashed-dotted line represents Reported cases and solid line represents fitted curve.

7Limitations

This model used to be designed to see transmission dynamics so does not to depict infection seriousness and demise. Without external births and deaths, the population’s size is assumed to be stable. This assumption is likely to have a significant impact given the time frame for investigating epidemics here. Further, this model does not separate the asymptomatic from pre-symptomatic. To overcome these limitations, we can extend the proposed model with more compartments such as symptomatic, asymptomatic, and quarantined cases to describe the dynamics of the COVID-19 epidemic process.

8Conclusion

In this paper, we studied the mathematical model of Caputo fractional derivative under fuzzy sense for the prediction of COVID-19. The data up to July 31, 2020, was utilized for finding parameters of the model with the best fit. Firstly, numerical simulations have been performed to predict COVID-19 cases in USA, India, and Italy over 10 months. Moreover, we have presented the results of the fractional-order model with the results of the integer-order model. The graphical representations are exhibited for the different values of α using MATLAB. The results confirmed that the fuzzy fractional-order model gives a superior fit to the real information with considerably less error than the integer-order model. Secondly, stability analysis has been provided for the proposed model in fuzzy environment. Lastly, the results of our suggested model have been compared with Ahmadian’s fuzzy fractional model. It is proven that the number of infected humans will increase with an increment in contact rate. Therefore, if we need to end this outbreak pandemic we have to be quarantined to decrease the conduct rate. In future studies, we can combine more compartments such as symptomatic, asymptomatic, and quarantined cases into our present model so that the model can give better depict the spread of infectious diseases and forecast the future trends and also investigate the applicability of the present model in various epidemic viruses.

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