Definition
This collection is conducted under by the World Health Organization (WHO). See Institutional Environment section for information on WHO.
Data Quality
- Institutional Environment
The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of WHO. It is attended by delegations from all WHO Member States and focuses on a specific health agenda prepared by the Executive Board.
The objective of the World Health Organization shall be the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. In particular for data collection, to study and report on, in co-operation with other specialized agencies where necessary, administrative and social techniques affecting public health and medical care from preventive and curative points of view, including hospital services and social security.
An approved Case-based reporting form was developed by WHO in February 2020 to be used by all participating countries for reporting COVID-19 cases.
- Timeliness
Data is collected daily and reported and published in the situation reports weekly. These reports have been available since Feb. 2020 and will continue for the duration of the pandemic. The data is made available daily via multiple dashboards and data is supplied by CSV for researchers to utilise.
WHO REFERENCE NUMBER: WHO/2019-nCoV/SurveillanceCRF/2020.2.
- Accessibility
Data is available publicly at an aggregate level by country. WHO will consider releasing other information if directly requested.
Data is available and updated daily by a CSV file available here https://covid19.who.int/table
In which formats is the data available for people to use? Where and how do you access them?
- Interpretability
The following data dictionary and definitions are available to assist with understanding the context and collection of the data.
https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/data-dictionary-for-case-based-reporting-form
https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/covid-19/surveillance/case-definition
- Relevance
COVID-19 situation reports are based on the case reports received by WHO from participating countries. Data are provided at least weekly and most likely daily.
The purpose of collecting the data is to inform those tasked with managing public health with the current status of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Standards have been used according to the WHO disease classifications and standardised case reporting and situation reporting.
- Accuracy
Data is collected at the country level according to their methodology and implemented in WHO standardised collection forms. These data are aggregated for use at the country levels some differentiation may be affected by the various interpretations of how to report the data at the country level prior to supply to WHO.The collection is a real time collection updated daily.
- Coherence
Data collection commenced in Feb 2020 and is being compared between countries based on consistent definitions and classifications. Data is adjusted weekly and sometimes daily.