This project complements the new EU H2020 project, HERoS (Health Emergency Response in Interconnected Systems) also a Covid-19 research project, coordinated by the HUMLOG Institute. While HERoS focuses on disruptions in medical supply chains, this project focuses on retail.

The Corona-virus outbreak is continuing to spread. By beginning of February, the number of infected people surpasses 42,000 infections, and the death toll continues to rise. As authorities and responders are struggling to contain the spread, news about mass quarantine camps or shortages of personal protective equipment threaten the health systems globally, fuelled by rumours and mis-information.
The disruptions of (medical) supply chains, the lack of capacity to treat patients and the spread of rumours fuel an atmosphere of uncertainty and mistrust, hampering an effective response. While traditional models of disease outbreaks largely focus on infection rates, new methods are needed to integrate behaviour from the bottom up, and integrated in macro-level models to coordinate the response world-wide.