Coronavirus research and modelling (COVINFORM)

Project Overview

COronavirus Vulnerabilities and INFOrmation dynamic Research and Modelling 

This project has received funding from the European Union’s H2020 research & innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 101016247.

The COVINFORM project is funded by the European Commission as a part of the Horizon2020 programme. It studies the COVID19 outbreak across Europe and its repercussions on the basic well-being of social groups whose livelihoods are already precarious, such as migrants, Travellers, people with learning disabilities. Swansea University is part of a consortium of 16 partners and leads the study in Wales. With its established Centre for Migration Policy Research, the project is supported by the existing CMPR infrastructure and substantive experience in producing top-quality academic publications and policy-recommendations on the topic of migration and health. Swansea’s inter-disciplinary team consists of Sergei Shubin and Diana Beljaars (human geography) and Louise Condon (nursing). 

The project focuses on the community-based case studies to evaluate responses to COVID19 and uses cross-disciplinary approaches (social epidemiology, the sociology of migration, philosophy etc.) to explore different dimensions of vulnerability in the context of the epidemic. It will develop an online portal and visual toolkit for stakeholders in government, public health, and civil society integrating data streams, indices and indicators, maps, models, primary research and case study findings, empirically grounded policy guidance, and creative assessment tools. 

Project Objectives:

The objective of the project is to understand how vulnerability is defined and addressed (if at all) in COVID-19 responses from government, public health and communication perspectives. Swansea University’s contribution to the project focuses on the responses and impact of COVID-19 across Wales. We will collect and review data mapping the government, public health and citizen responses to COVID-19. We will also explore the impact of COVID-19 in Wales through a series of case studies focusing on health care labour migration, gypsy and traveller communities and individuals with learning disabilities. We are keen to explore if and how the vulnerability of these specific groups has been approached and how it has impacted their experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Project Aims:

• Analyse and compare outbreak responses across Europe and their impacts on human behaviour and social dynamics in different regions and countries.
• Examine how vulnerability is defined and addressed (if at all) in COVID-19 responses from government, public health and communication perspectives. 
• Address the potential exacerbation of health inequalities affecting a number of vulnerable groups. 
• Analyse the effects and efficiency of government, public-health and citizen responses at regional and national levels, and develop guidelines, best practices and interventions to mitigate impacts and boost wellbeing. 
• Develop guidance for health behavioural patterns to positively influence adherence to behavioural advice and prevent disinformation about health issues and confinement, isolation and social distancing at societal, community and individual levels. 

Consent Form (Creative)

Consent Form (Interview)