A COVID-19 case surveillance restricted access dataset with 32 elements, including state and county of residence information, is available to the public. To access this dataset, complete the Registration Information and Data Use Restrictions Agreement (RIDURA). Other important information is provided below.

Requesting Access

Please review the following documents to determine your interest in accessing the COVID-19 Case Surveillance Restricted Access Detailed Data file:

1) CDC COVID-19 Case Surveillance Restricted Access Detailed Data: Summary, Guidance, and Limitations Information and Restricted Access Data Use Agreement Information

2) Data Dictionary for the COVID-19 Case Surveillance Restricted Access Detailed Data

The next step is to complete the RIDURA. Once complete, CDC will review your agreement. Once access is granted, ASK SRRG (eocevent394@cdc.gov) will email you information about how to access the data through GitHub. If you have questions about obtaining access, email eocevent394@cdc.gov.

Overview

The COVID-19 case surveillance system database includes individual-level data reported to U.S. states and autonomous reporting entities, including New York City, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. On April 5, 2020, COVID-19 was added to the Nationally Notifiable Condition List and classified as “immediately notifiable, urgent (within 24 hours)” by a Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) Interim Position Statement (Interim-20-ID-01). CSTE updated the position statement on August 5, 2020, to clarify the interpretation of antigen detection tests and serologic test results within the case classification. The statement also recommended that all states and territories enact laws to make COVID-19 reportable in their jurisdiction, and that jurisdictions conducting surveillance should submit case notifications to CDC.

COVID-19 case surveillance data are collected by jurisdictions and shared voluntarily with CDC. For more information, visit https://wwwn.cdc.gov/nndss/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/case-definition/2020/08/05/.

The deidentified data in the restricted access dataset include demographic characteristics (including state and county), exposure history, disease severity indicators and outcomes, clinical data, laboratory diagnostic test results, and comorbidities.

All data elements can be found on the COVID-19 case report form located at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/pui-form.pdf.

The Case Surveillance Task Force and Surveillance Review and Response Group (SRRG), within CDC’s COVID-19 Emergency Response, provides stewardship for datasets that support the public’s access to COVID-19 data while protecting individual privacy.
COVID-19 case reports have been routinely submitted using standardized case reporting forms.

On April 5, 2020, CSTE released an Interim Position Statement with national surveillance case definitions for COVID-19 included. Current versions of these case definitions are available here: