Op-Ed and Letter to the editor about covid19za HOT 17 CLOSED

it's not clear what outcomes you want based on the above?

from covid19za.

This is very interesting, and sounds like something I would certainly like to assist with if I can. I am currently travelling though, and won't be able to contribute anything meaningful until 12 January. However, if any inputs during the morning of 12 January could still be worthwhile to you, please count me in.

from covid19za.

@HerkulaasCombrink I suggest you put the link to the google doc here and ask people to ask for permission to access it.

from covid19za.

Sorry for the delay in responding. I have been on leave and back today. It will try to respond today

from covid19za.

@lrossouw, thank you for the question.

The outcomes that we want:

• We are proposing a new way of sharing data and information to the public, in addition to what is already being shared
• We want people who are not data or tech savvy to understand what any disease outbreak means by looking at simplified visualisations different from the current infographics shared with people
• Initial epidemiological responses focus on efforts led by three primary groups of variables, all related to Date, Time, and number. However, as outbreaks move to Epidemics etc. the level of sophistication required to make decisions (whether you are a public healthcare expert, or member of the Public) needs to be more nuanced and contextually relevant
• We would like to know if would you like to be part of the engagement so that we can setup a Google doc and invite you to contribute on there and give your inputs

from covid19za.

@lizelgreyling Most certainly

from covid19za.

Once we have all the contributors, we will create a separate document so that we can collaborative work on this within the week. We will invite everyone end of day on the 12th to the document

from covid19za.

Great, thank you for everyone's input. Please email me on [email protected] if you want to be invited to the Google Doc to contribute to the output

from covid19za.

Good morning,

We are going to invite the people to the Google Doc for comments on the Op-Ed, after the argument is developed, we will move onto the letter to the editor.

Thank you for all the responses.

from covid19za.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EcF2mNqXL3RRhNBaC1s8O7AmRW10ImHwSD_d7kDPyfw/edit

from covid19za.

Thank you everyone for your contributions thus far.

This is a reminder to contribute toward the peace.

Please contribute on the Google doc if you have not done so - so that you can be included in the Op-Ed. The Op-Ed is being drafted, so please use the link specified above for your contributions. If you did not contribute, you cannot be an author for the Op-Ed. We want to ensure that your valuable inputs are part of the process.

from covid19za.

Thanks for the good start. Where are we aiming this for.

Having read it I think there are two issues: (1) the need for the underlying raw data to be released in a computer readable version and publicly accessible way; and (2) the need for public health authorities (and others) to be clear about how to present data in a way that is meaningful.

These two points are of course related but I think that the paper needs to separate out these more -- at the moment it weaves between the two which is a little confusing. I would suggest we separate them out: (a) the need for raw data to be available -- the problems if not available and examples of what can be done with this (b) successes and failures of the communicating the data and examples of how things could be done differently and what the impact of choices made are (e.g., showing results per capita or the gross amount -- gives a very different perspective of what the burdens or problems are)

from covid19za.

@shaze we are writing the Op-Ed in the Conversation, the proposal for this is accepted and you will be added to the online editing platform once I have all the contributors handles.

I agree with your separation of these concepts in an academic paper, which is why we are submitting a letter to the editor. The part that was edited is just for the Op-Ed - hence the writing style etc. being a bit more emotive. Thank you for your comments prof. We can look online for the edits. If need be, we can also setup a brief virtual meeting with the group tomorrow just to make sure that we all agree and are comfortable with the argument.

from covid19za.

Dear everyone, nearly there with the Op-Ed. The academic article will follow this one, with a similar logic but with more detail.

Thank you for your contributions thus far. We are nearly finished with the Op-Ed. The updated article is in the Doc, and you all would have been invited to make edits online. There are three comments we still need to address. Please go through these as at 12pm on the 24th, I will submit this to the Conversation.

from covid19za.

In case you haven't seen it

https://twitter.com/EricTopol/status/1496135944193425414/photo/1

from covid19za.

Sorry -- this is a better link: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00424-9

from covid19za.

Thank you @shaze

from covid19za.