After seeing some journalists talk about the lack of a comprehensive dataset coming from the State, I did what I usually do in these situations and made some phone calls.
Is there a table anywhere charting Indiana’s (and its major counties) cases and deaths on a daily basis – i.e. showing the trends? Should the State add this to its dashboard? https://t.co/MbZ0KsvYaN
— Indiana Law Blog (@indianalawblog) March 26, 2020
I called the main information line (317-233-1325) for the Indiana Department of Health. I spoke to the extremely nice and helpful administrator who said it would probably be best if I spoke with Megan Wade-Taxter. She didn’t answer, but I did leave a voicemail.
Megan is the Media Relations Coordinator, Office of Public Affairs for the Indiana State Department of Health.
Megan Wade-Taxter
Media Relations Coordinator, Office of Public Affairs
317-233-7104
mewadetaxter@isdh.in.gov
While that was simmering, I read that Nikki Kelli stated that some of the data was embedded in the News Releases from the ISHD.
I have the releases they send every day I think. I just don’t have time to input them. All news releases should be here. https://t.co/AXsxN4Uezt
— Niki Kelly (@nkellyatJG) March 26, 2020
Meanwhile, I also tapped some development friends to make a simple script to parse out the data from the same news releases.
Of course it only took a few minutes to get a working one from my friend Zachary (his GitHub). Thank you again, Blackary!
I then took an hour and launched this Google Sheet, Indiana COVID-19 / Coronavirus Open Dataset, that houses the information.
I heard back later in the day from the Joint Information Center. As of this morning on March 29th, I have not seen any additional data made available.
