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Open government data, uncertainty and coronavirus: An infodemiological case study
Nikolaos Yiannakoulias1, Catherine E Slavik2, Shelby L Sturrock3
1School of Earth, Environment and Society, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Social Science & Medicine (1982)
|December 5, 2020
Summary
Publicly available COVID-19 case data may contain errors, limiting their usefulness for assessing individual risk or making informed decisions. Transparency requires acknowledging data limitations for accurate public understanding of SARS-CoV-2 information.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Public Health Data Analysis
- Health Informatics
Background:
- Governments worldwide release COVID-19 data (testing, cases, hospitalizations, deaths) for public information.
- The utility of this open government data beyond transparency is often unexamined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the informational value of publicly available SARS-CoV-2 positive case numbers.
- To evaluate the reliability of COVID-19 data for informing the public and guiding decision-making.
Main Methods:
- Case study analysis using real-world data from Ontario, Canada.
- Combination of empirical data analysis and simulations to model data accuracy.
Main Results:
- Daily publicly available SARS-CoV-2 test results likely contain significant errors regarding individual risk metrics.
- Short-term variations in reported case numbers offer minimal useful information for individual decision-making.
Conclusions:
- Open government data enhances transparency but requires clear communication of data limitations.
- Highlighting uncertainties in SARS-CoV-2 data is crucial for accurate public awareness and responsible data use.
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