Supporting the government response to the pandemic
Tracing positive Covid-19 cases and their contacts less successful in deprived areas
Research has shown that a smaller proportion of positive Covid-19 cases and their contacts are reached by NHS Test and Trace in deprived areas, compared with more affluent areas. Between May and November 2020, an additional 9,000 positive Covid-19 cases and 42,500 contacts would have been reached in the most deprived regions if they'd had the same success rates as the least deprived.
Assessing the emergence of Covid-19 apps
Apps have emerged as key in the response to Covid-19 and are being used by the Government to help transition out of lockdown. Yet assessments of these apps have raised concerns - from privacy and security issues, to adoption rates required for effectiveness. A new research project will contribute to public and policy debates, moving beyond an analysis of single apps to look at multiple apps and their inter-relationships.
From schools to social bubbles: Warwick academics contribute to SAGE
Our academics in the Zeeman Institute are contributing to the Government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) and providing scientific evidence to support the UK’s response to Covid-19. Their work includes short-term forecasts for the UK, contact tracing, potential exit strategies, school re-openings, social bubbles and predicting global transmission.
First global coronavirus survey results launched by international team - including Warwick academics
April 2020 saw the release of the first results of a global coronavirus survey. The survey involved more than 100,000 participants across the world, and revealed important cross-country differences on how citizens prepare and cope with Covid-19 - delivering crucial findings which may help inform governments in decision-making.
Could location-tracking apps could stop virus transmission?
With a vaccine likely still many months away, governments are looking for ways to get people and economies moving again without risking further deaths. Research suggests that tracking people’s movements via an app, and identifying and isolating anyone who has come into contact with an infected person could be critical to reduce transmission.
Contact-tracing apps: Researching public opinion
With all the possible choices for a contact-tracing apps, many experts have argued which approach is in the best interests of the public. However, as of May 2020, the opinions of the public had not been gathered, and so our researchers developed a new survey to solicit their thoughts. Discover the outcomes, and what this may mean for the future of contact tracing apps.
Which Covid-19 models should we use to make policy decisions?
With so many Covid-19 models being developed, how do policymakers know which ones to use? A new process to harness multiple disease models for outbreak management has been developed by an international team of researchers - including the University of Warwick.