Picture this: A path to normalcy

0:03As vaccines roll out around the world, the question on everybody's mind is what does the journey back to normal look like?

0:11A new normal won't return at the flip of a switch.

0:14We need to understand what's happening and we need trusted data to do that.

0:19So what should we be tracking?

0:21What metrics do we need to make effective data-driven decisions?

0:25And how do we know if we're on the path to normalcy?

0:36Picture this.

0:37Things will be okay when they get simple again.

0:40That's the view of Dr.

0:42Sam Scopino, Complex Systems Scientist and Assistant Professor at the Network Science Institute at Northeastern University.

0:50With his help, we've identified five key variables that can help us measure our progress to a state of resembling normalcy.

0:56In other words, what data will tell us when and how we can return to a simpler, if not quite normal, life.

1:03The first variable is of course the vaccines themselves.

1:07At the most basic level, we need to understand how they work.

1:10Do they prevent severe disease, or do they also interrupt transmission?

1:14Which vaccine will make a difference, especially early on when coverage is low?

1:18What are the side effects?

1:20Public and private healthcare organizations will need to track these data at a granular level.

1:25Next, we have to consider the huge task of distributing and administering the vaccines.

1:30This of course brings production and logistical challenges, from mass shipping of perishable products.

1:35to scaling delivery to patients within myriad healthcare systems.

1:39And most critical of all, prioritizing what groups should be vaccinated first and managing follow-up to ensure second doses are administered on schedule.

1:47The third key variable is vaccine acceptance and uptake, which is difficult to predict.

1:52Vaccine acceptance is about building trust within local communities, especially where vaccine hesitancy is the norm.

1:59Uptake on the other hand is about vaccinations itself.

2:02Is it fast, easy and accessible?

2:05The story of COVID-19 is fundamentally a local story, so what we really need are data insights at the postal code level.

2:12It's going to take time to roll out the vaccine, but with focus shift into the vaccine itself, we can't forget the importance of testing.

2:19We need to know how available is on-demand testing.

2:22What are the barriers that prevent people from being tested?

2:25How long do the results take?

2:27Hours or days?

2:28With this data, communities can identify hotspots and businesses gain insights they need to reopen, getting us one step closer to normalcy.

2:37Finally, even with testing, vaccines, and wide-scale public health measures, nothing beats good old-fashioned contact tracing

2:45Closely monitoring where, when and by whom one was exposed will help people understand if they're at risk and take the right precautions, especially if they're asymptomatic.

2:54Contact tracing is foundational to the path to normalcy.

2:57By making sure that exposed individuals are aware, they can take actions to limit further transmission.

3:03Over the next few months, these factors will drive how quickly or how well things will return to normal for citizens, communities, and the economy.

3:11For more information, check out the Tableau COVID-19 data hub, where you can explore dashboards, find actionable insights, and visualize your own analysis.