Codebook version 2.10
5 May 2021
This document is the authoritative codebook for the Oxford Covid-19 Government Response Tracker (GitHub repo, university website). The dataset contains 20 indicators and a miscellaneous notes field organised into four groups:
- C - containment and closure policies
- E - economic policies
- H - health system policies
- M - miscellaneous policies
For more detailed guidance about the codebook and how we interpret the indicators, see the coding interpretation guide. This ensures consistency, and standardizes coding across the database.
Updates to this codebook are recorded in the changelog below.
Most indicators are recorded on an ordinal scale that represents the level of strictness of the policy. Four of the indicators (E3, E4, H4 and H5) are recorded as a US dollar value of fiscal spending.
Government coronavirus policies often vary by region within countries. We code the most stringent government policy that is in place in a country/territory, as represented by the highest ordinal value. Sometimes the most stringent policy in a country/territory will only apply to a small part of the population. If the most stringent policy is only present in a limited geographic area or sector (eg perhaps only one state has implemented policies at a high level), we use a binary flag variable to denote this limited scope. Ten of the indicators (C1-C7, H1, H6 and H8) have a flag for whether they are "targeted" to a specific geographical region (flag=0) or whether they are a "general" policy that is applied across the whole country/territory (flag=1).) E1 has a flag to describe whether income support is for just formal sector workers (flag=0) or whether it includes informal workers as well (flag=1). H7 has a flag to describe whether vaccine policy is funded at cost to the individual (flag=0) or by government (flag=1).
As explained in our index methodology documentation, an indicator with flag=0 is weighted lower than flag=1 when calculating overall index values.
| ID | Name | Description | Measurement | Coding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | C1_School closing |
Record closings of schools and universities | Ordinal scale | 0 - no measures 1 - recommend closing or all schools open with alterations resulting in significant differences compared to non-Covid-19 operations 2 - require closing (only some levels or categories, eg just high school, or just public schools) 3 - require closing all levels Blank - no data |
C1_Flag |
Binary flag for geographic scope | 0 - targeted 1- general Blank - no data |
||
| C2 | C2_Workplace closing |
Record closings of workplaces | Ordinal scale | 0 - no measures 1 - recommend closing (or recommend work from home) or all businesses open with alterations resulting in significant differences compared to non-Covid-19 operation 2 - require closing (or work from home) for some sectors or categories of workers 3 - require closing (or work from home) for all-but-essential workplaces (eg grocery stores, doctors) Blank - no data |
C2_Flag |
Binary flag for geographic scope | 0 - targeted 1- general Blank - no data |
||
| C3 | C3_Cancel public events |
Record cancelling public events | Ordinal scale | 0 - no measures 1 - recommend cancelling 2 - require cancelling Blank - no data |
C3_Flag |
Binary flag for geographic scope | 0 - targeted 1- general Blank - no data |
||
| C4 | C4_Restrictions on gatherings |
Record limits on gatherings | Ordinal scale | 0 - no restrictions 1 - restrictions on very large gatherings (the limit is above 1000 people) 2 - restrictions on gatherings between 101-1000 people 3 - restrictions on gatherings between 11-100 people 4 - restrictions on gatherings of 10 people or less Blank - no data |
C4_Flag |
Binary flag for geographic scope | 0 - targeted 1- general Blank - no data |
||
| C5 | C5_Close public transport |
Record closing of public transport | Ordinal scale | 0 - no measures 1 - recommend closing (or significantly reduce volume/route/means of transport available) 2 - require closing (or prohibit most citizens from using it) Blank - no data |
C5_Flag |
Binary flag for geographic scope | 0 - targeted 1- general Blank - no data |
||
| C6 | C6_Stay at home requirements |
Record orders to "shelter-in-place" and otherwise confine to the home | Ordinal scale | 0 - no measures 1 - recommend not leaving house 2 - require not leaving house with exceptions for daily exercise, grocery shopping, and 'essential' trips 3 - require not leaving house with minimal exceptions (eg allowed to leave once a week, or only one person can leave at a time, etc) Blank - no data |
C6_Flag |
Binary flag for geographic scope | 0 - targeted 1- general Blank - no data |
||
| C7 | C7_Restrictions on internal movement |
Record restrictions on internal movement between cities/regions | Ordinal scale | 0 - no measures 1 - recommend not to travel between regions/cities 2 - internal movement restrictions in place Blank - no data |
C7_Flag |
Binary flag for geographic scope | 0 - targeted 1- general Blank - no data |
||
| C8 | C8_International travel controls |
Record restrictions on international travel Note: this records policy for foreign travellers, not citizens |
Ordinal scale | 0 - no restrictions 1 - screening arrivals 2 - quarantine arrivals from some or all regions 3 - ban arrivals from some regions 4 - ban on all regions or total border closure Blank - no data |
| ID | Name | Description | Measurement | Coding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E1 | E1_Income support (for households) |
Record if the government is providing direct cash payments to people who lose their jobs or cannot work. Note: only includes payments to firms if explicitly linked to payroll/salaries |
Ordinal scale | 0 - no income support 1 - government is replacing less than 50% of lost salary (or if a flat sum, it is less than 50% median salary) 2 - government is replacing 50% or more of lost salary (or if a flat sum, it is greater than 50% median salary) Blank - no data |
E1_Flag |
Binary flag for sectoral scope | 0 - formal sector workers only or informal sector workers only 1 - all workers |
||
| E2 | E2_Debt/contract relief (for households) |
Record if the government is freezing financial obligations for households (eg stopping loan repayments, preventing services like water from stopping, or banning evictions) | Ordinal scale | 0 - no debt/contract relief 1 - narrow relief, specific to one kind of contract 2 - broad debt/contract relief |
| E3 | E3_Fiscal measures |
Announced economic stimulus spending Note: only record amount additional to previously announced spending |
USD | Record monetary value in USD of fiscal stimuli, includes any spending or tax cuts NOT included in E4, H4 or H5 0 - no new spending that day Blank - no data |
| E4 | E4_International support |
Announced offers of Covid-19 related aid spending to other countries Note: only record amount additional to previously announced spending |
USD | Record monetary value in USD 0 - no new spending that day Blank - no data |
| ID | Name | Description | Measurement | Coding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H1 | H1_Public information campaigns |
Record presence of public info campaigns | Ordinal scale | 0 - no Covid-19 public information campaign 1 - public officials urging caution about Covid-19 2- coordinated public information campaign (eg across traditional and social media) Blank - no data |
H1_Flag |
Binary flag for geographic scope | 0 - targeted 1- general Blank - no data |
||
| H2 | H2_Testing policy |
Record government policy on who has access to testing Note: this records policies about testing for current infection (PCR tests) not testing for immunity (antibody test) |
Ordinal scale | 0 - no testing policy 1 - only those who both (a) have symptoms AND (b) meet specific criteria (eg key workers, admitted to hospital, came into contact with a known case, returned from overseas) 2 - testing of anyone showing Covid-19 symptoms 3 - open public testing (eg "drive through" testing available to asymptomatic people) Blank - no data |
| H3 | H3_Contact tracing |
Record government policy on contact tracing after a positive diagnosis Note: we are looking for policies that would identify all people potentially exposed to Covid-19; voluntary bluetooth apps are unlikely to achieve this |
Ordinal scale | 0 - no contact tracing 1 - limited contact tracing; not done for all cases 2 - comprehensive contact tracing; done for all identified cases |
| H4 | H4_Emergency investment in healthcare |
Announced short term spending on healthcare system, eg hospitals, masks, etc Note: only record amount additional to previously announced spending |
USD | Record monetary value in USD 0 - no new spending that day Blank - no data |
| H5 | H5_Investment in vaccines |
Announced public spending on Covid-19 vaccine development Note: only record amount additional to previously announced spending |
USD | Record monetary value in USD 0 - no new spending that day Blank - no data |
| H6 | H6_Facial Coverings |
Record policies on the use of facial coverings outside the home |
Ordinal scale | 0 - No policy 1 - Recommended 2 - Required in some specified shared/public spaces outside the home with other people present, or some situations when social distancing not possible 3 - Required in all shared/public spaces outside the home with other people present or all situations when social distancing not possible 4 - Required outside the home at all times regardless of location or presence of other people |
H6_Flag |
Binary flag for geographic scope | 0 - targeted 1- general Blank - no data |
||
| H7 | H7_Vaccination Policy |
Record policies for vaccine delivery for different groups |
Ordinal scale | 0 - No availability 1 - Availability for ONE of following: key workers/ clinically vulnerable groups (non elderly) / elderly groups 2 - Availability for TWO of following: key workers/ clinically vulnerable groups (non elderly) / elderly groups 3 - Availability for ALL of following: key workers/ clinically vulnerable groups (non elderly) / elderly groups 4 - Availability for all three plus partial additional availability (select broad groups/ages) 5 - Universal availability |
H7_Flag |
Binary flag for cost | 0 - At cost to individual (or funded by NGO, insurance, or partially government funded) 1- No or minimal cost to individual (government funded or subsidised) Blank - no data |
||
| H8 | H8_Protection of elderly people |
Record policies for protecting elderly people (as defined locally) in Long Term Care Facilities and/or the community and home setting | Ordinal scale | 0 - no measures 1 - Recommended isolation, hygiene, and visitor restriction measures in LTCFs and/or elderly people to stay at home 2 - Narrow restrictions for isolation, hygiene in LTCFs, some limitations on external visitors and/or restrictions protecting elderly people at home 3 - Extensive restrictions for isolation and hygiene in LTCFs, all non-essential external visitors prohibited, and/or all elderly people required to stay at home and not leave the home with minimal exceptions, and receive no external visitors Blank - no data |
H8_Flag |
Binary flag for geographic scope | 0 - targeted 1- general Blank - no data |
| ID | Name | Description | Measurement | Coding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M1 | M1_Wildcard |
Record policy announcements that do not fit anywhere else | Free text notes field | Note unusual or interesting interventions that are worth flagging |
- 5 May 2021 v2.10 added 'or all businesses open with alterations resulting in significant differences compared to non-Covid-19 operations' to C2 level 1
- 18 March 2021 v2.9 added H8 'Protection of elderly people' indicator
- 05 March 2021 v2.8 added 'non elderly' to definition of Clinically vulnerable groups' for H7
- 14 January 2021 v2.7 changed 'country' to 'country/territory' and removed 'private' from C4 definition, replaced E1 flag 'formal sector workers only' to 'formal sector workers only or informal sector workers only', and 'informal workers too' to 'all workers'
- 09 December 2020 v2.6 added H7 Vaccination policy indicator
- 04 November 2020 v2.5 added C1 expanded definition of '1' and added targeted/general flag to H6 indicator
- 22 October 2020 v2.4 added H6 Facial Coverings indicator
- 05 July 2020: v2.3 add better explanation of targeted/general flags in intro
- 22 May 2020: v2.2 changed description of E1=2 from "replacing more than 50% of lost salary" to "replacing 50% or more of lost salary"
- 11 May 2020: moved v2 codebook to GitHub