Penn State researchers find a way to predict COVID surges

• Scott LaMar
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  Scott LaMar has worked in both radio and television for more than four decades.
  
  Currently, LaMar is the Host and Executive Producer of The Spark program on WITF-FM, 89.5 & 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pa.
  
  Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Sr. Public Affairs producer and produced the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs TV program, Smart Talk.
  
  In addition to his on-air duties, LaMar has moderated political candidate debates, including those for candidates running for Pennsylvania governor and the U.S. Senate and was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
  
  LaMar often emcees or moderates local events and has gone as far as California to emcee a national event.
  
  The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. He has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
  
  LaMar and The Spark have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s “Dignity in Dialogue Award”, the South-Central Assembly’s “Regional Citizen Award” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero” by The Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.
  
  A native of Coatesville, Pa., LaMar has also worked as a broadcast news anchor, sports play-by-play announcer and manager.

 Matt Rourke / AP Photo

A worker posts placard for a COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Reading Area Community College in Reading, Pa., Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021.

Airdate: Tuesday, January 18, 2022

The U.S. is in the middle of another COVID-19 surge – this one driven by the omicron variant.

Almost two years into the pandemic, one of frustrations for the medical community and — really all of us — is the unpredictability of the virus. And that includes knowing where there will be a surge.

Researchers at Penn State may have found one way to predict outbreaks – pinpointing areas where residents are most or least likely to comply with CDC mitigation guidelines.

Dr. Robert Lennon, an associate professor of family and community medicine at the Penn State College of Medicine led the research and is on Tuesday’s Smart Talk.