As Covid-19 advice and information changes on a daily basis, here we signpost the best Coronavirus data charts, maps and updates that have been making sense of the noise through visualizations. Last updated on 24th March 2020, here is our round up of the most useful Covid-19 data vizualisations from around the web.
Coronavirus Data Map – COVID-19 Situation According to WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) is updating their Coronavirus data map daily with their latest global statistics on the COVID-19 situation:
On their web page on global COVID-19 cases, they give statistics on Confirmed Cases, Number of Deaths and Number of Countries / Areas / Territories with Cases.
COVID-19 Growth Data Graphs from Worldometer
The spread of COVID-19 is alarming to varying degrees depending on what media outlets you pay attention to and what statistics you look at.
The dedicated Coronavirus section of Worldometer is providing some of the most up to date COVID-19 growth statistics and data visualizations available online in the way of various tables and graphs.
For example, growth in global reported cases can be viewed on a linear scale, which tends to be the most alarming as it begins to resemble the ‘hockey stick’ shaped line:
However, the global community’s ability to predict, and potentially cope with, the growth in cases may be interpreted differently if the same data is viewed on a logarithmic scale:
The magnitude of the situation is the same, but the shape of the curve on graphs used will of course have the potential to bring a very different reaction to a reader.
Those looking to the spur the public into action in the way of hand washing and general hygiene practices (governments or public health organizations for example) in such an environment may be inclined to deliberately use data and graphs suggesting sharper trends, like the linear scale.
Those who are proactively communicating with the goal of reassuring the public may opt for a different way to interpret the data, such as through the use of a logarithmic scale like the one above, which feels like a softer curve and a flattening out.
Media outlets, who tend to be in the business of shock and attracting attention to sell newspapers, clicks etc, will often go for displaying data in the most alarmist manner of course…
Coronavirus Infographics
The excellent Information is Beautiful website is maintaining a range of data visualizations on a dedicated Coronavirus Data Pack area of their website.
They have a wide range of Coronavirus infographics, ranging from simple bar charts like the one above on COVID-19 survival rates based on data from John Hopkins University, through to more complex visualizations that will help people learning about issues such as:
- the process of flattening the curve of new infections to reduce strain on healthcare providers and for developing herd immunity
- how contagious and deadly COVID-19 is compared to previous, well-known diseases and pandemics
- the risks to those with existing health conditions.
Why Outbreaks Spread Exponentially & How to “Flatten the Curve”
The Washington Post put together an excellent article on why outbreaks like coronavirus spread exponentially and how governments can flatten the curve using techniques like social distancing.
What makes it particularly interesting is that the article contains several dynamic simulations that demonstrate the increase in sick people within the population if the movement of people is left unchecked vs implementation of social distancing or quarantining.
A really fascinating watch and a great example of data visualization.
We’ll continue to update this page of our website as we find more sources of data and top visualizations related to Coronavirus over the coming days and weeks.