The team at Methods Analytics worked on data sets with the Track and Trace programme and Ordnance Survey to develop a spatial complex network analysis that detects clusters of Covid-19 infections. Following this, spatial data derived infection movements and the distance between locations and time separation formed a baseline to detect clusters of infections that were then aggregated at lower layers super output areas level.
Other areas of analysis included assessing the impact of staff absences and interdepartmental transfers to intensive care units which highlighted the lack of specialised skills available for high-dependency beds.
The insight presented by Methods Analytics was provided weekly to policy-makers to assess whether the national alert level should be increased, and non-pharmaceutical interventions should be in place, leading to a new standard for the national alert level methodology. Collaboration between the point prevalence and advanced analytics teams quantified the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions during the first and second wave which were regularly reported to the Cabinet Office and the Secretary of State.
Thanks to the work undertaken by Methods Analytics, the UK government and local authorities were able to implement data-led decisions that impacted infection rates and the quality of life for everyone in the nation.