SAN JOSE, CA (June 30, 2020) — Hikma Health has released the first county-level policy data map in the nation. To date, the interactive map and associated open-source dataset contain detailed COVID-19 policy data for over 1,200 counties and federally recognized Native American nations. Given the highly variable nature of COVID-19, as well as the major differences in population and policies within states, county-level policy data will be an important analytics asset for epidemiologists, economists, and policymakers devising future steps, as all US states started reopening businesses this month. This interactive map also allows county residents to review a compilation of the local policy decisions that have shaped their lives for the past several months and view the associations between local initiatives and infection rates.
For the counties and Native nations included, the dataset contains the types of policy interventions and the dates they were put in place and lifted at a county level, coupled with the New York Times COVID-19 county-level case statistics. This dataset allows for a more precise analysis of the impact of such policies on COVID-19 spread. Preliminary analysis shows at least equal amounts of intrastate variation compared to interstate for certain policy interventions – an unforeseen and unseen finding in state-level analyses. The largest of its kind, the dataset is already becoming the preferred policy dataset over more general state-level data – having been accessed hundreds of times and used by modelers at local governments, hospitals, leading nonprofits, and universities including Harvard, Stanford, and Columbia.
Organized by Cray V. Noah and Dana M. Vigue at Hikma Health, the dataset was crowdsourced by a team of eighty volunteers spanning all Harvard schools and numerous other academic institutions, all following a standardized protocol. “Despite being so valuable, data with this county-level resolution is scarce because finding it is so tedious. Every county is different, from their websites to their local news stations, so the process can’t be automated and instead demands the thousands of hours and discernment our incredible volunteer team has put in,” said Project Lead and 4th-year Harvard MD/MBA student Cray Noah. “We first launched this project because we were surprised by the lack of publicly available local-level policy data, particularly for the Native American communities that have been significantly impacted,” commented Hikma Health CEO Hassaan Ebrahim. “I am proud of and grateful to our volunteer team for producing such a comprehensive and diverse dataset.”
While the county dataset is now complete, the Hikma Health team is working to keep it dynamically updated. Efforts are ongoing this month to update county policies as they change, and to continue crowdsourcing policies for the disproportionately affected Native American communities. "This dynamic, high-resolution data set will help researchers and policymakers understand how individual communities are experiencing this pandemic," said Project Lead and 4th-year Harvard MD/PhD student Dana Vigue. "Insights into local variations in COVID-19 impact and response can inform community-centered policies to help curb the spread of the virus and save lives." Those interested in being a part of this effort can contact volunteer@hikmahealth.org.
Hikma Health is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization building custom digital health solutions free and open source for vulnerable populations. Connect with Hikma Health at www.hikmahealth.org. Hikma Health is not affiliated with Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC or any of its affiliates.
###
If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Cray V. Noah at press@hikmahealth.org or +1(415) 326-8183.