The importance of forecasting in public health

Dr. Rahul Remanan,
CEO, Moad Computer

"The goal of forecasting is not to predict the future but to tell you what you need to know to take meaningful action in the present." 
    -- Paul Saffo, Futurist

• Minimizing cognitive load: Disease forecasting models can help minimize the cognitive load of trying to assess the trajectory of an outbreak. The healthcare decision makers can instead focus on getting the basics of their outbreak prevention strategies right. For example, during the ongoing COVID19 pandemic, the COVID19 case load forecasting tools can help reduce the cognitive load for healthcare decision makers  in trying to understanding the future impact of the pandemic. Therefore these data driven tools allow them to focus on their efforts to improve the compliance for basic preventative measures such as:

1. Routine hand washing
2. Wearing of face masks in public places
3. Social distancing
4. Quarantine the exposed and isolate the infected

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