Accurate modelling is one of the tools being used to fight the Covid-19 pandemic globally. It is essential for policy makers, experts and the population to get access to reliable information on the evolution and severity of the pandemic based on relevant and robust advanced analytics and modelling.

In the last two weeks there has been a large increase in the daily number of cases throughout South Africa. These increases show clear signs of being the beginning of the second surge experienced in many countries around the world. In order to manage the rapidly growing numbers in Gauteng, it is vital to be able to target areas where the spread of the virus is growing fast and can be categorized as a hotspot. The determination and modelling of hotspots are complex tasks that require the use of techniques derived from artificial intelligence (AI).

In order to make this exercise possible, back in August the Gauteng Government launched a dashboard with IBM Research, Wits University and other stakeholders to visualize the data and modelling for the province. The partners have now updated the dashboard to visualize hotspots in the Gauteng Province. The tool provides information about the location, the number of cases, the area, affected administrative regions and the level of severity for each hotspot.

Members of the public can now access live information on COVID-19 hotspot areas in Gauteng via a dashboard.

The Gauteng Government in partnership with IBM Research and Wits University launched the platform in response to the pandemic to enable other stakeholders to visualize the data and modelling for the province. The dashboard is accessible at gpcoronavirus.co.za.

Meanwhile Gauteng Government is appealing to the province to heed warnings and stick to regulations.

Compiled by Naadiya Adams

Source: wits.ac.za