The COVID-19 Pandemic
Using Data to Monitor the Outbreak
Office of Data Analytics and Business Intelligence (DBI) |August 1, 2021
Beginning of the Pandemic
The Office of Data Analytics and Business Intelligence (DBI) at the City of Dallas collected data and created a public Tableau dashboard to monitor the COVID-19 outbreak in the Dallas region (composed of Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, and Rockwall counties.) A selection of pages are detailed below. The full dashboard can be accessed here.
Using data from Johns Hopkins University, DBI created a dashboard to monitor COVID-19 cases and deaths in the Dallas region. Mirroring the global trend, COVID-19 began to spread in the Dallas region in March 2020. The trend continued upwards in the Dallas region until beginning to flatten out in February 2021. There have been over 800,000 cases and 10,000 deaths in the Dallas region.
(The dashboard is embedded below and is fully interactive. Hover over a visual for more information. Click a county on the map to filter the data.)
Emergency Regulations Enacted
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson proclaimed a "state of disaster" on March 12, and on March 13 Dallas City Manager T.C. Broadnax enacted emergency regulations in accordance with Section 14B of the Dallas City Code to
protect life and property and preserve critical resources while a state of
disaster is in effect. The two men issued amended emergency regulations on March 16 to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the city of Dallas. The DBI dashboard monitors 311 calls, violations, and citations related to the emergency regulations.
(The dashboard is embedded below and is fully interactive. Hover over a visual for more information. The full dashboard can be accessed here.)
Testing Efforts Underway
In March 2020, the first lab to offer COVID-19 testing in Texas opened in Dallas County. The DBI dashboard monitors the number of tests administered in the region as well as the percent of tests that are positive and the demographic data of those who received a test.
(The dashboard is embedded below and is fully interactive. Hover over a visual for more information. The full dashboard can be accessed here.)
Hospitals are Challenged
As COVID-19 spreads, hospital capacity was tested. The DBI dashboard monitors hospital capacity for the region by providing detailed data on the availability of hospital beds, ventilators, and ICU units for Dallas and the surrounding counties. The dashboard also provides visuals on
pediatric COVID-19 related hospitalizations.
(The dashboard is embedded below and is fully interactive. Hover over a visual for more information. The full dashboard can be accessed here.)
A Shot of Hope
The arrival
of COVID-19 vaccines in January 2021 brings new hope to the community. The City of Dallas began administering vaccines and collaboration between City of Dallas departments enabled data to be collected and accessed which allowed the City to provide transparency and insight into its vaccination administration program.