Working with open data in times of pandemics: Using covidDATA-19

Abstract

One of the problems when working with data is the lack of uniformity in the criteria for their collection, which makes their reuse difficult if not impossible. Data collection and standardization protocols must be clear. This problem has been seen in the global pandemic caused by Covid-19, in which uniform data have been urgently needed to make rapid decisions and keep the population informed. The difficulties of creating a portal that analyzes the evolution of the data on the pandemic in Spain are discussed. CovidDATA-19 is an open data website that features interactive visualizations and allows filtered data to be downloaded according to the user’s choices. Its development as highlighted the scarcity of easily reusable official sources and the fragility of trust in such data during this crisis.