News and views from More Metrics
A selection of articles and news.
Mapping the new COVID-19 strain
Wednesday 6th January 2021
Dave Edmonds
Back at the beginning of October the Covid story was all about students returning to University and the explosion of cases on University campuses. Now as we end 2020 the focus of attention is the new strain of the virus and the rapid increase in cases seen first in London, but now spreading elsewhere, prompting the latest lockdowns…
Will Christmas end this Disunited Kingdom?
Friday 27th November 2020
Dave Edmonds
Over the last week the UK and devolved Governments have sought to present a united front in order to save Christmas. But in the run up to Christmas and in all likelihood in January, this show of unity will be put aside as each nation implements its own, often very different response to the pandemic. Scotland's decision to introduce tier 4…
Do our interests and beliefs impact our COVID risk?
Wednesday 11th November 2020
Dave Edmonds
Are dog lovers more at risk from COVID-19 than their cat loving friends? Do historically Brexit supporting areas take more risks than their Remain leaving counterparts? More Metrics has undertaken a short piece of analysis, reviewing its GeoSociety datasets alongside the ever increasing COVID-19 data to look for possible trends. Its by no means a rigorous scientific study but it…
Did students spread COVID?
Friday 30th October 2020
Nigel Bradshaw
Using our model of Confirmed Cases per 100,000 at Output Area (~7 postcode) level we looked to see if there was evidence of a geographic spread of COVID-19 cases out from the recent outbreak in communal student locations. The graph clearly shows that the answer is no. We found no evident that the student outbreak leaked geographically, even within the immediate…
Significant COVID case variation by OAC
Wednesday 21st October 2020
Nigel Bradshaw
An analysis of our COVID-19 data modelled at Output Area (~7 postcodes) shows significant variation in direction and level of cases between different Output Area Classifications. The surge in cases amongst university students is evident and greatest in communal accommodation. Students in other accommodation have also peaked, though to a lesser extent. Their confirmed case rates are now coming down. Other OAC…
A truly local view is so important
Monday 5th October 2020
Dave Edmonds
With much of the UK under "local" lockdown restrictions due to COVID-19, its worth focusing a bit on what local actually means. In England for example, what began with the likes of Leicester and Luton has expanded to cover whole regions, primarily in the North West and North East. Similar patterns of lockdown are the case in Wales, Scotland and…
Levelling up needs to start closer to home
Friday 25th September 2020
Sam Costain
As plans are announced to "level up" across the UK many will focus on the North-South divide. But as, More Metrics data shows, there is much to do to level up within regions up and down the country where only a few miles difference can show a huge disparity in quality of life and our GeoSociety data can indicate people's…
Get fit to fight COVID-19
Friday 4th September 2020
Sam Costain
With COVID-19 causing a national lockdown, people across the UK sought to get themselves healthier to fight the disease. Joe Wicks lockdown workouts have become a bit of a craze, as well as sales of new bikes between £400 and £1,000 more than doubling in April (according to Reid, 2020). Smokers quitting due to COVID-19 was also found in a study…
Do you know your bunny-hugger from your Eco-Warrior?
Tuesday 28th July 2020
Nigel Bradshaw
How do you talk to potential customers about matters that matter to them? How do you identify their key concerns? GeoSociety is a unique set of GDPR-compliant measures of people's interest in a range of topics from "Care about Animal Control and Slaughter" to "Concerned about anti-social crime". Data values are tagged by postcode and have also been ranked against each…
Staycation COVID-19 risks
Tuesday 14th July 2020
Sam Costain
As the UK gradually emerges from Lockdown, More Metrics data can be used to identify potential risks across a range of everyday scenarios. In this article, we explore the potential hazards of the long overdue day trip. It can help to identify if locations travellers are coming from are high risk and so help predict locations of spikes in tourist…
