Deficiencies in data-sharing mechanisms – highlighted during the 2013–2016 Ebola virus disease outbreak in west Africa – brought the question of data access to the forefront of the global health agenda.2 In September 2015, agreement was reached on the need for open sharing of data and results, especially in public health emergencies.2 Subsequently, the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors confirmed that pre-publication dissemination of information critical to public health will not prejudice journal publication in the context of health emergencies declared by WHO.4 Furthermore the committee stated that information critical for public health is to be shared with WHO before publication5 – a commitment echoed by several leading journals in the context of the COVID-19 response.