In a strange twist of fate, it seems the first coronavirus patient to be infected in the UK is from Haslemere -the very place we used for our 2018 citizen science experiment: the BBC Pandemic.
Here's a news piece from the time. Bit close to home, huh.
telegraph.co.uk/global-health/…
Here's a news piece from the time. Bit close to home, huh.
telegraph.co.uk/global-health/…
It's an extraordinary coincidence. But for me, the most powerful bit of the original tv prog was this:
This is our 2018 simulation of the difference that everyone washing their hands 5-10 times a day might make to the spread of a flu-like virus.
See how much time it buys us?
This is our 2018 simulation of the difference that everyone washing their hands 5-10 times a day might make to the spread of a flu-like virus.
See how much time it buys us?
That simulation is based on real data from tens of thousands of people who volunteered to be part of our experiment, using mobile phones to see how pandemics might spread.
The project was a huge undertaking by a team led by Julia Gog @Cambridge_Uni & @AdamJKucharski at @LSHTM
The project was a huge undertaking by a team led by Julia Gog @Cambridge_Uni & @AdamJKucharski at @LSHTM
The experts knew this was inevitable. They knew, when it came, the forecasts had to be as accurate as possible.
They needed to know often people mix with one another. Thanks to the experiment, we've now got a dataset that does exactly that, at a scale never been seen before.
They needed to know often people mix with one another. Thanks to the experiment, we've now got a dataset that does exactly that, at a scale never been seen before.
(at least in the open)..
The data itself is being analysed and released as quickly as is humanly possible. Here’s the first paper:
medrxiv.org/content/10.110…
More coming. Follow @petrakle for updates.
medrxiv.org/content/10.110…
More coming. Follow @petrakle for updates.
We don’t have many weapons in the fight against infectious disease, but maths is a powerful ally. To find out more about how and why, take a look at this excellent offering from @AdamJKucharski:
amazon.co.uk/dp/B07JLSHT7M/…
amazon.co.uk/dp/B07JLSHT7M/…
You can also hear @AdamJKucharski and I on the Today programme this morning talking about the project.
(About 50 mins in):
bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00…
And watch the original programme on iplayer here:
bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05…
(About 50 mins in):
bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00…
And watch the original programme on iplayer here:
bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05…
A final comment (a more personal one). This project – and all of the staggeringly important work as a result of it – really wouldn’t have been possible without the unrivalled reach and commitment to science broadcasting of the BBC.
Please be careful what you wish for.
Please be careful what you wish for.
