COVID-19 is currently making its way across the world. And tracking its spread has become a pastime for concerned citizens who want to see its progress across the globe. If you’re one of these people, here are the most useful maps to track the spread of COVID-19 we’ve been able to find online.
There are a number of apps, dashboards, and maps out there. So we’ve tried to make sure the ones on this list are created from reputably-sourced data. We’ve only included maps that cover the whole globe, as this is becoming everyone’s problem. Here are the maps that’ll help you track COVID-19 based on the most up-to-date information.
Most of these maps use data from Johns Hopkins University, which also offers its own map. Out of all the maps out there, the Johns Hopkins map seems to be the most precise.
When it comes to appearance, HealthMap is by far the most attractive — it’s visually pleasant and has the most amazing animation. It pulls data from multiple sources and allows you to animate the spread of the virus all the way to some of the first reported cases.
The World Health Organization’s dashboard is much more bright and cheerful — considering the subject matter, anyway.
NextStrain map is quite technical, but if you want a little more information about how COVID-19 has spread as far as it has, its map is by far the most informative. The map breaks down the genome of the virus and shows an animated map depicting the routes by which the virus traveled from country to country.
This map from NBC New York shows the spread of the virus over time. It’s not as impressive as some of the other maps on this list, but it’s a bit simpler to look at and understand.
As far as non-map data goes, the New York Times’ dashboard is the most well-rounded and has the easiest-to-read charts. And it has a number of text stats describing the situation around the world.
If you want to see what the initial spread of the virus looked like, I recommend this YouTube video from WawamuStats. It’s not helpful for live stats, but it’s helpful for historical purposes, especially if you’re a fan of data visualization.
Similarly, TheWuhanVirus shows the spread of the infection in red-and-white country shapes. The site’s owner is not as active as he was, by his own admission, but he said the site is still updated at least four times a day.
We encourage all of our readers to stay informed, wash their hands, and isolate themselves if need be. If you take your coronavirus information in non-visual form, here’s a list of resources on the disease:
- World Health Organization COVID-19 Q&A
- European Center for Disease Control and prevention facts on COVID-19
- Center for Disease Control COVID-19 facts
