New system forecasts COVID-19 around world

A system to predict the spread of COVID-19 globally was launched online on Monday, according to the Collaborative Innovation Center of Western Ecological Safety led by Lanzhou University in Gansu province.

The Global COVID-19 Prediction System is designed to forecast the daily numbers of infections for 30 consecutive days of more than 180 countries and regions around the world, according to the center.

The system will take into account the impact of climate and environment, population density and government control measures, providing a scientific basis for effective prevention and control measures globally, according to Huang Jianping, director of the center.

In the months since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers at the center have been working to develop the system on the basis of the existing regional epidemic prediction model.

"We hope the system will help the World Health Organization and governments around the world to better tackle COVID-19," Huang said.

According to their initial findings, the best temperature for the spread of the novel coronavirus is between 5 C and 15 C. Sixty percent of the COVID-19 cases around the world were in places within the temperature range.