Pandemic Data Initiative

Building modern data management systems for local, state, federal, and global public health agencies is critical to preparing the nation and the world for the next major public health crisis. The Pandemic Data Initiative explores the lessons learned throughout the pandemic for how best to support government efforts to collect and deliver comprehensive real-time information to the public, policy makers, and the media.

Expert Insight

Q&A: Institutional Pandemic Funding Catalyzes Research Collaboration

University research administration responded quickly to the funding needs of the pandemic, instituting the JHU COVID-19 Research Support Program in March 2020. The interdisciplinary program has provided major lessons in data transparency and collaboration that could redefine the structure of institutional research after the pandemic.

Pandemic Data Outlook

2021: Pandemic Data Year in Review

Over the course of 2021 the COVID-19 pandemic continued to ravage the world despite the major success of vaccine development and rollout. The data show that we are making significant headway, but data collection, analysis, and dissemination efforts must be strengthened in order to end the pandemic in 2022.

Expert Insight

Q&A: Data Tardiness in Schools Hinders Responsiveness

There is insufficient data on how the pandemic has affected students, and even when those data are available, they often are released too late to help policymakers. The key to improving equity for all students is having real-time, interconnected data streams available to educators and administrators at all levels.

Pandemic Data Outlook

Lack of Test Positivity Standards for COVID Demands Recalculation

Due to the evolving and challenging pandemic data landscape and persisting incomplete data streams, the Coronavirus Resource Center has redefined and expanded how it calculates COVID-19 positivity for U.S. states. This effort is required due to the lack of federal standards and a perplexing testing data environment.

Expert Insight

Q&A: Why Aren’t We Talking to Each Other About Data?

Experts across fields have been frustrated trying to figure out how best to build and estimate models of behavior and disease spread throughout the pandemic. Increased communication and collaboration on data collection and analysis is perhaps the best way to address this issue and produce better forecasts and policy.

Pandemic Data Outlook

Destination Unknown for COVID-19 Data from Travelers

In the United States, non-resident data on COVID-19 cases, tests, and vaccines are not regulated in any way. The absence of governance leads to states presenting data in any format or disregarding it altogether despite the capacity of this data to have major impacts on trends and rates, especially during periods of frequent travel.

Expert Insight

Q&A: COVID-19 Fiscal Stimulus Policies Can Benefit Climate and Economies

Without data on the environmental and economic impacts of recovery policies during crises, policymakers work blindly or at the guidance of special interests. Pandemic stimulus spending data could point the way to creative policy decisions that benefit the climate, the economy, and public health.

Pandemic Data Outlook

Detailed Demographic Data Highlights Health Disparities

The Coronavirus Resource Center has launched a Disparity Explorer to highlight where and how COVID-19 led to harsher outcomes for different demographic groups. These data show a disproportionate burden on many minority communities, including Latinx people. Disparity data should spur policymakers and medical professionals to take informed, targeted action.

Expert Forum