Reply to Ekström and Ottersen: Real-time access to data during outbreaks is a key to avoid a local epidemic becoming a global pandemic

Abstract

Ekström and Ottersen (1) correctly observe that improved real-time data access is needed for a digital twin to be effective and reliable, and that this is a caveat for our work on using digital twins to inform decisions that could prevent local epidemics becoming global pandemics (2). Data-availability in support of operational decision-making must be an important part of a “pandemic treaty” (3). Here, we further discuss the importance of data-availability.