Dear Eugene 

PUBLICATION OF OPEN AND ACCESSIBLE COVID-19 DATA IN NORTHERN IRELAND

The Department of Health (NI) dashboard provides a wealth of data on COVID-19. Over the past months we have seen improvements to the dashboard, for example the inclusion of time series data for care home outbreaks. We appreciate the work you and your team are doing to respond to user needs.   

 In previous communications with my team, we have asked you to consider how the data underpinning the dashboard can be published in a more accessible way. This week you have started to release these data daily in excel, as well as pdf format. We welcome this development to improve user access to these data and are pleased to see you have clearly signposted the dataset from the dashboard. It will allow easier navigation and encourage re-use of the data by users. We also recognise revisions to the data may be likely: The Department of Health (NI) should clearly explain any revisions or corrections made to the data, in line with the expectations set out in the Code of Practice for Statistics.  

 My team will continue to liaise with you on the important data and statistics you provide on the COVID-19 pandemic and how you continue to respond to user needs.   

 Yours sincerely 

 

Ed Humpherson 

Director General for Regulation