Elsevier established a free COVID-19 resource center in January 2020, offering information in English and Mandarin. The center is hosted on Elsevier Connect and grants permission for free access to research in PubMed Central and other repositories. The article describes an interactive dashboard developed by Johns Hopkins University to track real-time COVID-19 cases globally. The dashboard, first shared on January 22, provides data on confirmed cases, deaths, and recoveries by country, province, and city. Initially, data were manually collected and updated twice daily, but a semi-automated system was adopted on February 1, using data from DXY, an online platform aggregating local reports. For countries outside mainland China, data were manually updated based on confirmed reports from health authorities. The dashboard aligns with daily reports from the Chinese CDC and WHO, and it provides timely data for public health decision-making. The dashboard is crucial for tracking the outbreak and informing response strategies. The article also highlights the importance of open access to epidemiological data for effective public health planning and modeling. Elsevier and Johns Hopkins University have collaborated to maintain the dashboard and ensure data accuracy. The data are available for public use and are updated regularly. The article emphasizes the need for accurate and timely data to guide public health responses and to support future outbreak monitoring. The dashboard has become a key tool for tracking the spread of the virus and informing global health strategies. The data are essential for understanding the transmission patterns and risk factors associated with the virus. The article also discusses the importance of data sharing in managing the outbreak and improving public health responses. The data are crucial for informing policy decisions and resource allocation during the pandemic.Elsevier established a free COVID-19 resource center in January 2020, offering information in English and Mandarin. The center is hosted on Elsevier Connect and grants permission for free access to research in PubMed Central and other repositories. The article describes an interactive dashboard developed by Johns Hopkins University to track real-time COVID-19 cases globally. The dashboard, first shared on January 22, provides data on confirmed cases, deaths, and recoveries by country, province, and city. Initially, data were manually collected and updated twice daily, but a semi-automated system was adopted on February 1, using data from DXY, an online platform aggregating local reports. For countries outside mainland China, data were manually updated based on confirmed reports from health authorities. The dashboard aligns with daily reports from the Chinese CDC and WHO, and it provides timely data for public health decision-making. The dashboard is crucial for tracking the outbreak and informing response strategies. The article also highlights the importance of open access to epidemiological data for effective public health planning and modeling. Elsevier and Johns Hopkins University have collaborated to maintain the dashboard and ensure data accuracy. The data are available for public use and are updated regularly. The article emphasizes the need for accurate and timely data to guide public health responses and to support future outbreak monitoring. The dashboard has become a key tool for tracking the spread of the virus and informing global health strategies. The data are essential for understanding the transmission patterns and risk factors associated with the virus. The article also discusses the importance of data sharing in managing the outbreak and improving public health responses. The data are crucial for informing policy decisions and resource allocation during the pandemic.