COVID-19 short-term forecasts Deaths 2020-07-18


Gnereal information

  • Forecasts produced by Jennie Castle, Jurgen Doornik, and David Hendry, researchers at the University of Oxford. These are our forecasts, and should not be considered official forecasts from, or endorsed by, any of: University of Oxford, Oxford Martin School, Nuffield College, or Magdalen College.
  • These forecasts are short term time-series extrapolations of the data. They are not based on epidemiological modelling or simulations. All forecasts are uncertain: their success can only be determined afterwards. Many mitigation strategies are in place, which, if successful, invalidate our forecasts. An explanation of our methods is provided below.
  • A list of notes is below. The most recent note:
    [2020-07-01] Modified the short-term model to allow for (slowly changing) seasonality. Many countries show clear seasonality after the initial period, likely caused by institutional factors regarding data collection. This seasonality was also getting in the way of peak detection. As a consequence estimates of the peak date may have changed for countries with strong seasonality.
    Added forecasts of cumulative confirmed cases for lower tier local authorities of England. The data is available from 2020-07-02 including all tests (pillar one and two). Only authorities with more than 5 cases in the previous week are included.

Peak increase in estimated trend of Deaths in Europe 2020-07-18

UKEUATBEBGBSCZDEDKESFIFRHUIEITNLPLPTROSENOCH
Peak date04-0904-0404-0604-15 --04-1104-0804-1504-0403-3104-2104-0804-1904-2403-2904-0404-2504-1505-0304-2104-0704-06
Peak daily increment 984 3121 20 322 7 10 226 15 945 31 944 13 167 781 153 23 31 25 94 8 60
Days from 100 to peak 22 31 7 22 0 0 22 3 18 1 23 6 21 25 15 19 17 31 24 -2 14
Days from peak/2 to peak 16 21 16 21 22 13 22 15 14 20 18 26 22 20 16 31 23 39 27 20 19
Last total 45273 134893 711 9800 299 260 358 9091 611 28420 328 30046 596 1753 35042 6136 1618 1684 2009 5619 255 1969
Last daily increment 40 46 0 0 2 1 0 3 0 0 0 -3 1 1 14 -2 6 2 21 0 0 0
Last week 454 621 3 18 31 1 6 20 2 17 -1 137 1 7 88 -1 47 24 125 93 3 1
Days since peak 100 105 103 94 98 101 94 105 109 88 101 90 85 111 105 84 94 76 88 102 103

Peak increase in estimated trend of Deaths 2020-07-18

BrazilCanadaChileColombiaIndiaIndonesiaIranMexicoPeruPhilippinesRussiaSouth AfricaTurkeyUSUS-ALUS-ARUS-AZUS-CAUS-COUS-CTUS-DCUS-DEUS-FLUS-GAUS-IAUS-ILUS-INUS-KSUS-KYUS-LAUS-MAUS-MDUS-MIUS-MNUS-MOUS-MSUS-NCUS-NEUS-NHUS-NJUS-NMUS-NVUS-NYUS-OHUS-OKUS-ORUS-PAUS-SCUS-TNUS-TXUS-VAUS-WAUS-WI
Peak date --05-06 -- --06-16 -- --06-2406-1407-1205-29 --04-1504-14 --04-09 -- --04-2404-2004-2906-23 --04-0705-2105-1205-0104-1404-1404-1404-2504-2904-1405-2904-3005-05 --05-2005-2906-2505-11 --04-0904-2904-1704-0905-05 -- -- --04-2204-0604-11
Peak daily increment 168 1622 666 279 132 171 120 2161 8 71 106 11 49 45 14 112 42 6 10 64 453 56 137 23 17 18 41 28 1580 9 999 76 8 4 137 105 25 12
Days from 100 to peak 36 72 79 68 102 48 18 29 -37 21 18 10 60 7 27 41 27 -7 0 17 23 22 17 42 21 22 0 16 85 14 20 25 4 -20 32 7 15 2
Days from peak/2 to peak 37 52 72 65 105 49 20 20 9 27 20 30 73 12 50 44 35 19 19 21 20 27 18 57 35 37 30 31 81 39 15 30 23 22 33 10 30 18
Last total 78772 8892 8445 6516 26816 4016 13979 38888 12998 1773 12228 4948 5475 140119 1253 357 2730 7702 1752 4396 578 514 4895 3100 789 7290 2627 307 667 3399 8412 3356 6291 1538 1098 1346 1648 299 396 15699 569 646 32478 3132 451 257 7015 1135 827 3939 2025 1444 843
Last daily increment 921 8 98 228 543 59 188 578 199 113 122 144 17 853 21 4 148 99 1 0 1 2 90 30 4 18 17 2 9 0 17 17 9 5 10 14 25 0 1 15 4 9 15 20 6 3 11 39 23 119 12 11 10
Last week 6672 63 1466 1209 3642 410 1150 3882 1128 239 910 869 112 4914 160 36 494 651 27 48 10 6 653 149 37 103 60 11 42 91 95 53 50 36 40 97 126 15 5 174 24 53 128 74 29 23 111 174 98 723 59 7 23
Days since peak 73 32 24 34 6 50 94 95 100 85 89 80 25 102 58 67 78 95 95 95 84 80 95 50 79 74 59 50 23 68 100 80 92 100 74 87 103 98

Deaths count forecast Europe (bold red line in graphs) 2020-07-19 to 2020-07-25

DateUKEUBGDEFRITPLPTROSE
2020-07-18 45273 134893 299 9091 30046 35042 1618 1684 2009 5619
2020-07-19 45390 135000 305 9105 30060 35060 1626 1690 2028 5633
2020-07-20 45390 135100 311 9105 30070 35070 1633 1695 2047 5642
2020-07-21 45510 135200 318 9110 30090 35080 1641 1701 2066 5651
2020-07-22 45610 135300 324 9114 30100 35100 1649 1706 2085 5676
2020-07-23 45670 135400 330 9121 30110 35110 1656 1712 2103 5699
2020-07-24 45770 135500 337 9123 30130 35130 1664 1717 2122 5719
2020-07-25 45820 135500 344 9127 30140 35140 1672 1723 2141 5719

Deaths count forecast (bold red line in graphs) 2020-07-19 to 2020-07-25

DateBrazilCanadaChileColombiaIndiaIndonesiaIranMexicoPeruPhilippinesRussiaSouth AfricaTurkeyUSUS-ALUS-ARUS-AZUS-CAUS-COUS-CTUS-FLUS-GAUS-IAUS-ILUS-INUS-KYUS-LAUS-MAUS-MDUS-MIUS-MNUS-MOUS-MSUS-NCUS-NJUS-NMUS-NVUS-NYUS-OHUS-OKUS-ORUS-PAUS-SCUS-TNUS-TXUS-VAUS-WI
2020-07-18 78772 8892 8445 6516 26816 4016 13979 38888 12998 1773 12228 4948 5475 140119 1253 357 2730 7702 1752 4396 4895 3100 789 7290 2627 667 3399 8412 3356 6291 1538 1098 1346 1648 15699 569 646 32478 3132 451 257 7015 1135 827 3939 2025 843
2020-07-19 79470 8904 8810 6633 27330 4120 14290 39190 13180 1773 12400 5116 5493 140200 1271 357 2840 7852 1752 4400 4914 3100 792 7317 2633 667 3412 8434 3365 6301 1542 1103 1350 1682 15740 573 654 32500 3154 451 260 7038 1143 848 4049 2039 843
2020-07-20 80160 8916 8990 6764 27840 4206 14600 39630 13360 1773 12500 5297 5510 140600 1291 359 2952 7988 1752 4404 5013 3106 796 7319 2635 667 3420 8457 3375 6311 1544 1108 1358 1717 15770 576 661 32520 3161 451 263 7041 1169 869 4146 2053 843
2020-07-21 81440 8927 9220 6881 28340 4298 14870 40400 13530 1773 12680 5485 5528 141600 1311 367 3068 8242 1762 4408 5180 3132 800 7341 2649 675 3441 8481 3384 6321 1549 1114 1383 1753 15820 580 668 32540 3179 454 265 7064 1208 891 4265 2067 847
2020-07-22 82580 8939 9540 7026 28840 4403 15160 41020 13710 1773 12840 5684 5545 142400 1333 372 3187 8463 1769 4411 5316 3157 803 7356 2659 682 3455 8505 3394 6330 1555 1119 1401 1790 15870 584 674 32570 3189 458 268 7089 1245 913 4426 2082 849
2020-07-23 83790 8951 9840 7183 29350 4501 15470 41660 13880 1773 12990 5892 5562 143300 1355 376 3311 8684 1771 4415 5529 3173 807 7379 2668 688 3475 8530 3403 6340 1563 1124 1416 1828 15930 587 681 32590 3209 462 270 7116 1316 936 4605 2096 854
2020-07-24 84950 8963 10300 7391 29860 4610 15740 42320 14060 1773 13170 6109 5579 144200 1378 385 3440 8887 1780 4419 5716 3201 811 7396 2676 695 3498 8556 3413 6349 1569 1129 1435 1867 15960 591 687 32610 3223 469 273 7137 1360 960 4765 2110 856
2020-07-25 85890 8974 10590 7716 30370 4706 15980 42860 14240 1809 13300 6336 5596 144800 1402 390 3575 9022 1782 4422 5844 3224 814 7413 2690 700 3502 8581 3422 6359 1573 1135 1447 1906 15980 595 694 32630 3236 473 275 7146 1401 984 4907 2125 864

Deaths count average forecast Europe (bold black line in graphs) 2020-07-19 to 2020-07-25

DateUKEUBGDEFRITPLPTROSE
2020-07-18 45273 134893 299 9091 30046 35042 1618 1684 2009 5619
2020-07-19 45300 134900 303 9090 30060 35050 1622 1688 2028 5620
2020-07-20 45330 135000 310 9091 30070 35060 1627 1694 2048 5629
2020-07-21 45430 135100 317 9096 30090 35080 1635 1699 2068 5639
2020-07-22 45500 135200 323 9099 30110 35090 1642 1705 2089 5662
2020-07-23 45580 135300 329 9108 30120 35100 1650 1710 2109 5682
2020-07-24 45660 135400 336 9113 30140 35120 1659 1716 2130 5709
2020-07-25 45740 135500 341 9120 30160 35130 1665 1722 2151 5712

Deaths count average forecast (bold black line in graphs) 2020-07-19 to 2020-07-25

DateBrazilCanadaChileColombiaIndiaIndonesiaIranMexicoPeruPhilippinesRussiaSouth AfricaTurkeyUSUS-ALUS-ARUS-AZUS-CAUS-COUS-CTUS-FLUS-GAUS-IAUS-ILUS-INUS-KYUS-LAUS-MAUS-MDUS-MIUS-MNUS-MOUS-MSUS-NCUS-NJUS-NMUS-NVUS-NYUS-OHUS-OKUS-ORUS-PAUS-SCUS-TNUS-TXUS-VAUS-WI
2020-07-18 78772 8892 8445 6516 26816 4016 13979 38888 12998 1773 12228 4948 5475 140119 1253 357 2730 7702 1752 4396 4895 3100 789 7290 2627 667 3399 8412 3356 6291 1538 1098 1346 1648 15699 569 646 32478 3132 451 257 7015 1135 827 3939 2025 843
2020-07-19 79400 8900 8640 6745 27220 4108 14220 39030 13160 1780 12370 5100 5491 140300 1273 359 2763 7787 1754 4399 4974 3105 792 7299 2628 668 3411 8428 3362 6299 1539 1100 1353 1666 15710 573 650 32490 3147 452 259 7021 1146 839 4036 2028 843
2020-07-20 80180 8911 8850 6952 27760 4200 14490 39430 13350 1787 12500 5279 5509 140600 1298 361 2836 7912 1757 4402 5081 3115 796 7305 2630 670 3423 8446 3370 6309 1541 1106 1360 1691 15750 577 655 32520 3156 452 262 7030 1161 856 4153 2037 843
2020-07-21 81400 8921 9090 7160 28320 4296 14760 40230 13550 1798 12670 5463 5526 141300 1329 366 2919 8138 1763 4405 5235 3134 800 7326 2643 675 3442 8465 3379 6318 1545 1111 1384 1721 15800 580 666 32540 3177 455 265 7051 1187 875 4295 2050 846
2020-07-22 82540 8932 9350 7405 28890 4403 15020 40870 13750 1808 12830 5656 5543 142100 1361 370 3010 8352 1768 4408 5374 3159 807 7340 2652 682 3458 8484 3388 6327 1551 1117 1404 1750 15850 584 673 32560 3190 458 268 7073 1210 894 4455 2064 847
2020-07-23 83700 8944 9670 7703 29460 4508 15300 41530 13950 1820 12990 5856 5561 142800 1389 375 3104 8548 1771 4412 5527 3175 812 7360 2662 687 3475 8504 3397 6337 1558 1121 1420 1778 15890 588 683 32580 3214 462 271 7096 1268 915 4640 2082 851
2020-07-24 84840 8955 10140 8008 30050 4616 15550 42190 14170 1836 13160 6064 5578 143500 1422 380 3201 8728 1777 4415 5679 3195 816 7380 2672 693 3494 8525 3406 6346 1563 1127 1436 1804 15970 592 691 32610 3238 466 274 7117 1301 934 4805 2100 855
2020-07-25 85900 8965 10540 8362 30640 4723 15810 42690 14380 1859 13330 6279 5596 143900 1453 385 3301 8871 1780 4419 5825 3214 820 7397 2682 697 3507 8546 3415 6356 1566 1132 1448 1830 16020 596 701 32630 3252 470 277 7132 1336 955 4957 2114 862

Deaths count scenario forecast (bold purple line in graphs) 2020-07-19 to 2020-07-27

DateUKEUBGDEFRITPLPTROSEBrazilCanadaChileColombiaIndiaIndonesiaIranMexicoPeruPhilippinesRussiaSouth AfricaTurkeyUSUS-ALUS-ARUS-AZUS-CAUS-COUS-CTUS-FLUS-GAUS-IAUS-ILUS-INUS-KYUS-LAUS-MAUS-MDUS-MIUS-MNUS-MOUS-MSUS-NCUS-NJUS-NMUS-NVUS-NYUS-OHUS-OKUS-ORUS-PAUS-SCUS-TNUS-TXUS-VAUS-WI
2020-07-18 45273 134893 299 9091 30046 35042 1618 1684 2009 5619 78772 8892 8445 6516 26816 4016 13979 38888 12998 1773 12228 4948 5475 140119 1253 357 2730 7702 1752 4396 4895 3100 789 7290 2627 667 3399 8412 3356 6291 1538 1098 1346 1648 15699 569 646 32478 3132 451 257 7015 1135 827 3939 2025 843
2020-07-19 45370 135000 303 9096 30090 35050 1625 1693 2026 5641 79600 8905 8600 6686 27310 4098 14180 39270 13120 1773 12380 5114 5495 140700 1265 359 2764 7797 1756 4399 4973 3108 792 7306 2633 669 3418 8428 3365 6302 1542 1102 1359 1655 15720 573 655 32510 3146 453 259 7034 1145 842 4060 2035 843
2020-07-20 45440 135100 307 9100 30120 35060 1631 1700 2043 5651 80590 8916 8900 6901 27770 4176 14380 39750 13250 1774 12520 5288 5514 141400 1292 364 2838 7915 1760 4403 5076 3135 796 7321 2641 675 3435 8444 3373 6311 1546 1106 1373 1668 15740 577 664 32530 3160 456 263 7049 1180 854 4189 2046 843
2020-07-21 45510 135200 311 9103 30140 35070 1637 1705 2059 5659 81430 8926 9150 7114 28300 4251 14590 40150 13390 1799 12690 5464 5532 142200 1321 369 2904 8032 1764 4405 5209 3161 799 7336 2648 681 3453 8457 3381 6319 1551 1111 1387 1689 15750 580 673 32540 3173 460 266 7064 1214 873 4335 2051 846
2020-07-22 45570 135200 315 9106 30150 35080 1643 1710 2074 5668 82390 8935 9400 7340 28710 4318 14810 40530 13520 1831 12850 5626 5551 142800 1343 373 2975 8169 1768 4408 5329 3184 802 7349 2655 687 3472 8468 3388 6328 1555 1114 1401 1711 15780 584 682 32550 3185 464 271 7079 1242 894 4502 2060 849
2020-07-23 45630 135300 320 9109 30170 35090 1649 1716 2089 5676 83370 8942 9650 7529 29140 4394 15040 40890 13620 1860 13020 5785 5569 143600 1363 377 3055 8315 1771 4410 5437 3208 805 7362 2661 692 3484 8477 3396 6335 1558 1118 1410 1725 15790 587 691 32560 3197 467 275 7094 1271 911 4670 2067 852
2020-07-24 45690 135400 324 9112 30180 35100 1654 1721 2103 5685 84260 8951 9880 7737 29540 4457 15270 41230 13720 1881 13170 5922 5585 144300 1394 382 3142 8491 1774 4412 5562 3226 807 7373 2667 697 3497 8486 3403 6342 1561 1120 1420 1759 15810 590 699 32570 3208 470 279 7108 1303 932 4816 2075 855
2020-07-25 45760 135500 328 9115 30190 35100 1659 1725 2114 5692 85100 8957 10210 7909 29880 4528 15500 41520 13820 1881 13320 6097 5600 144900 1420 387 3231 8674 1776 4414 5708 3240 809 7384 2672 701 3509 8495 3410 6350 1564 1123 1429 1792 15830 592 708 32580 3219 473 283 7120 1339 954 4990 2080 858
2020-07-26 45820 135500 333 9118 30200 35110 1665 1730 2126 5699 85920 8965 10450 8074 30190 4597 15730 41860 13890 1881 13440 6256 5612 145500 1463 392 3314 8845 1777 4415 5840 3253 812 7394 2677 704 3519 8505 3417 6356 1567 1125 1435 1816 15840 594 715 32590 3229 476 287 7133 1380 980 5176 2085 861
2020-07-27 45880 135600 336 9120 30200 35120 1669 1733 2138 5705 86710 8972 10730 8208 30490 4665 15960 42130 13980 1881 13590 6409 5627 146200 1501 397 3400 9009 1779 4418 5989 3262 814 7404 2682 708 3528 8511 3422 6362 1569 1127 1443 1838 15850 597 723 32600 3239 477 291 7145 1412 1005 5336 2091 863

Further information

  • We believe these forecasts fill a useful gap in the short run. They give an indication of what is likely to happen in the next few days, removing some aspect of surprise. Moreover, a noticeable drop in comparison to the extrapolations could be an indication that the implemented policies are having some impact. It is difficult to understand exponential growth. We hope that these forecasts may help to convince viewers to adhere to the policies implemented by their respective governments, and keep all arguments factual and measured.
  • We use the data repository for the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Visual Dashboard operated by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering. This is updated daily, but we tend to update our forecasts only every other day.
    US state data as of 2020-03-28 is courtesy of the New York Times.
  • We can only provide forecasts of what is measured. If confirmed cases are an underestimate of actual cases, then our forecasts will also be underestimates. No other epidemiological data is used. Data definition and collection differs between countries and may change over time.
  • We will update the methodology as we learn what is happening in the next few days or weeks. Once the number of cases levels off, there is no need to provide these forecasts anymore.
  • Countries where the counts are very low or stable have been omitted.
  • The graphs have dates on the horizontal axis (yyyy-mm-dd) and cumulative counts on the vertical axis. They show
    1. bold dark grey line (with circles): observed counts (Johns Hopkins CSSE);
    2. many light grey lines (with open circles): forecasts using different model settings and starting up to four periods back;
    3. red line (with open circles): single forecasts path using default model settings;
    4. black line (with crosses): average of all forecasts, recentered on the last observation;
    5. thin green lines: some indication of uncertainty around the red forecasts, but we do not know how reliable that is.
    Both the red line forecasts and the black lines are also given in the tables above. These forecasts differ, we are currently inclined to use the average forecasts.
  • The forecasts are constructed as follows:
    1. An overall `trend' is extracted by taking a window of the data at a time. In each window we draw `straight lines' which are selected using an automatic econometric procedure (`machine learning'). All straight lines are collected and averaged, giving the trend.
    2. Forecasts are made using the estimated trend, but we note that this must be done carefully, because simply extrapolating the flexible insample trend would lead to wildly fluctuating forecast. We use the `Cardt' method, which has been found to work well in other settings.
    3. Residuals from the trend are also forecast, and combined with trend forecasts into an overall forecast.
  • Scenario forecasts are constructed very differently: smooth versions of the Chinese experience are matched at different lag lengths with the path of each country. This probably works best from the peak, or the slowdown just before (but we include it for the UK nonetheless).
  • The forecast evaluation shows past forecasts, together with the outcomes (in the grey line with circles).
  • EU-BS is Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania together.
  • This paper describes the methodology and gives further references. Also available as Nuffield Economics Discussion Paper 2020-W06. Still preliminary is the documentation of the medium term forecasts.

Recent changes and notes

[2020-07-01] Modified the short-term model to allow for (slowly changing) seasonality. Many countries show clear seasonality after the initial period, likely caused by institutional factors regarding data collection. This seasonality was also getting in the way of peak detection. As a consequence estimates of the peak date may have changed for countries with strong seasonality.
Added forecasts of cumulative confirmed cases for lower tier local authorities of England. The data is available from 2020-07-02 including all tests (pillar one and two). Only authorities with more than 5 cases in the previous week are included.
[2020-06-29] Tables in April included the world, but not the world as we know it (double counting China and the US). So removed the world from those old tables.
Why short-term forecasts can be better than models for predicting how pandemics evolve just appeared at The Conversation.
Thursday 2 July webinar at the FGV EESP - São Paolo School of Economics. This starts at 16:00 UK time (UTC+01:00) and streamed here.
[2020-06-24] Research presentation on short-term COVID-19 forecasting on 26 June (14:00 UK time) at the Quarterly Forecasting Forum of the IIF UK Chapter.
[2020-06-06] Removed Brazil from yesterday's forecasts (only; last observation 2020-06-05).
[2020-06-04] Data issues with confirmed cases for France.
Added an appendix to the short term paper with further forecast comparisons for European and Latin American countries.
Both Sweden and Iran have lost their peak in confirmed cases. For Sweden the previous peak was on 24 April (daily peak of 656 cases), for Iran it was on 31 March (peak of 3116). For Iran this looks like a second wave, with increasing daily counts for the last four weeks. For Sweden this is a sudden jump in confirmed cases in the last two days, compared to a fairly steady weekly pattern over the previous six weeks.
[2020-05-20] Problem with UK confirmed cases: negative daily count. This makes the forecasts temporarily unreliable.
Updated the second paper.
[2020-05-18] Minor fixes to the improved version of scenario forecasting, backported to 2020-05-13.
[2020-05-13] We now omit countries with fewer than 200 confirmed cases in the last week (25 for deaths).
The short-term paper has some small updates, including further comparisons with other models.
Data for Ecuador are not reliable enough for forecasting.
Switched to an improved version of scenario forecasting.
[2020-05-06] The New York Times is in the process of redefining its US state data. Unfortunately, at the moment only the last observation has changed (e.g New York deaths jumped from 19645 on 2020-05-05 to 25956 a day later). This means the data is currently useless; however it does bring it close to the Johns Hopkins/CSSE count (25626 on 2020-05-06). The aggregate US count is based on JH/CSSE so unaffected. We now use Johns Hopkins/CSSE US state data, including all states with sufficient counts. So the new forecasts cannot be compared to those previously.
A minor change is that we show the graph without scenario forecast if no peak has been detected yet.
[2020-04-29] See our blog entry at the International Institute of Forecasters.
US history of death counts revised in Johns Hopkins/CSSE data.
UK death counts have been revised to include the deaths in care homes. In the Johns Hopkins/CSSE data set, which we use, the entire history has been revised. So forecasts made up to 2020-04-29 cannot be compared to later outcomes. In the ECDC data set only the last observation has changed, causing a jump in the series.
[2020-04-27] Our short-term COVID-19 forecasting paper is now available as Nuffield Economics Discussion Paper 2020-W06.
A small adjustment has been made to the scenario forecast methodology, and will be documented shortly.
[2020-04-24] A summary of our work on short-term COVID-19 forecasting appeared as a voxeu.
[2020-04-17] Bird and Nielsen look into nowcasting death counts in England.
[2020-04-16] Added scenario forecasts to all graphs now. This would now be the preferred forecast for most.
This is the first time with a peak in confirmed UK cases (also for deaths, but this is uncertain because it is at the same date).
[2020-04-10] Updated documentation with better description of short-term estimates and peak determination.
[2020-04-09] Added table with estimated peak dates (if happened) and dates to and since the peak. Note that this can be a local peak, and subsequent re-acceleration (or data revisions) can result in a new peak later.
[2020-04-08] Minor correction to peak estimates. Added table with scenario forecasts.
[2020-04-06] Added a post hoc estimate of the peak number of cases. This needs at least three confirmed observations (four for deaths) after the event. It is based on the averaged smooth trend, and can change later or be a local peak. It is marked with a vertical line with the date label, or a date with left arrow in the bottom left corner of the graph. This is backported to 2020-04-04.
[2020-04-02] Now including more US States, based on New York Times data.
[2020-03-31] Scenario forecasts, based on what happened in China earlier this year, are presented for several countries (line marked with x). Created more plausible 90% confidence bands (dotted line in same colour).
[2020-03-26] Scenario forecasts that are based on what happened in China earlier this year, only for Italy.
[2020-03-24] Our forecasts are starting to overestimate in some cases. This was always expected to happen when the increase starts to slow down. Scenario forecasts that are based on what happened in China earlier this year, but only for Italy and Spain sofar.

Initial visual evaluation of forecasts of Deaths