Morning Edition

Why modeling COVID-19 is such a challenge

One of the most difficult aspects of daily life right now is the degree to which the future is unknown.

How long will social distancing last? When will schools open again? How long until hospitals fill up, and how many people will die?

All over the world, researchers are scrambling to model various outcomes for this pandemic. But the truth is it's an incredibly difficult task.

Minneapolis-based science writer Maggie Koerth investigated exactly why that is in a recent article for FiveThirtyEight. She spoke with MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer about what she found.