HOUSTON, February 9, 2021 - Baker Botts L.L.P., a leading international law firm, provided pro bono legal assistance to health care experts at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy to obtain CDC COVID-19 case reports with an expedited Freedom of Information Act request. As a result of obtaining the reports, which are a large data set of each COVID-19 case in the country, the experts found that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have received limited data on the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. despite providing detailed case report forms, according to the experts’ new research paper.

The experts’ paper, “CDC Case Report Data for COVID-19: Characterizing the Pandemic with Limited Information” recommends mandating uniform case reporting for life-threatening pandemics. With better reporting, researchers would have had comprehensive data on how many people with COVID-19 were exposed to an airport or airplane before they tested positive, for example.

Houston partner George Fibbe and associate Kristina Vu led the Baker Botts pro bono effort.

To see the full press release, click here.

ABOUT BAKER BOTTS L.L.P.
Baker Botts is an international law firm whose lawyers practice throughout a network of offices around the globe. Based on our experience and knowledge of our clients' industries, we are recognized as a leading firm in the energy, technology and life sciences sectors. Since 1840, we have provided creative and effective legal solutions for our clients while demonstrating an unrelenting commitment to excellence. For more information, please visit bakerbotts.com.