Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, most of us have developed a new habit: checking disease monitoring dashboards every day. While the statistics on viral infection rates, deaths, and recoveries grab the headlines, there are other critical data points that exist right under our noses which could help us better understand the spread and impact of COVID-19. For example, data from telecommunications companies may help us understand the relationship between mobility, population density, and viral infection rates; while pharmaceutical sales can indicate possible spikes in infection rates before the official results come in - a particularly useful strategy in areas wherein testing is not extensive.
There is so much data out there. We only have to open our eyes to it.
