A new study led by researchers from the University of Waterloo, including UbiLab director and School of Public Health and Health Systems professor Plinio Morita, found that stricter non-pharmaceutical interventions, such as policy restrictions on business operations and social gatherings, and indoor mask mandates, are associated with COVID-19 case reductions.
In undertaking the study, the researchers used the Google data to assess the effects of public mobility to destinations commonly frequented, and found that relatively simple forecasting models— known as “time-series models”—can predict one week ahead trends in daily COVID-19 cases in Ontario with some accuracy and are more precise than Ontario government forecasts.
For more information, please see the University of Waterloo News release.