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Digital Planet: Chinese mobile data predicts Covid-19 Spread

Factual: Science & Nature

Chinese mobile data predicts COVID-19 Spread

05/05/2020 GMT

Chinese mobile data predicts Covid-19 Spread

BBC World Service - Digital Planet, Chinese mobile data predicts Covid-19 Spread

Using mobile phone data, researchers can predict the spread of Covid-19 through China

Researchers predict Covid-19 spread in China using mobile phone data; solar powered lights and radios to tackle the crisis in Malawi; robotic fish help study real fish behaviour

Using anonymous mobile data, researchers tracked the movement of people from Wuhan to other regions of China and showed that it was possible to predict the spread of the virus throughout the country. Professor Nicholas Christakis, a co-author of the study, shares how it was done and what other countries could learn from it. 

Malawi Solar-Powered Radios
Malawi could be highly affected by the coronavirus pandemic. In particular rural areas without access to electricity are in need of help. Brave Mhonie, the general manager for the charity Solar Aid in Malawi, tells Gareth about the plan to bring solar powered lights to remote clinics as well as radios to rural communities to spread information about COVID-19. 

Robot Zebra Fish
In a laboratory in New York, scientists study zebra fish by having them interact with their robot counterparts. Reporter Anand Jagatia went to Tandon School of Engineering to find out how this is done and how robo-fish might be helpful in the future. 

(Photo: Chinese New Year celebrations. Credit: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)                                         

The presenter is Gareth Mitchell with studio commentary from Ghislaine Boddington.

Producer: Ania Lichtarowicz

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