Synthetic data mimics real patient data, accurately models COVID-19 pandemic

While caring for COVID-19 patients, health care professionals across the country have amassed a treasure trove of information about SARS-CoV-2, its evolving variants such as Delta and Omicron, and their effects on the human body and public health. Such data, collected in patients' electronic medical records, are vital for understanding the virus and developing treatments. But national data from medical records have been difficult for researchers to obtain because important processes that ensure patient privacy also slow down access to the data.