Build a real-time COVID-19 data app with Make.com

Using make.com you can quickly build a real-time COVID-19 data app that aggregates trusted statistics and delivers them directly into your dashboards, mobile apps, or internal tools without custom backend code.

This how-to guide is based on the original COVID-19 tracking scenario from Make and explains how to connect data sources, process information, and publish results in a reusable way.

Why build a COVID-19 data workflow with Make.com

Before creating your scenario, it helps to understand what problems a COVID-19 data workflow solves.

• Centralize statistics from reliable APIs.
• Standardize data formats for your applications.
• Update dashboards and reports in near real time.
• Reduce manual research and copy-paste tasks.

The original Make guide shows how to collect numbers such as confirmed cases, deaths, and recoveries, then deliver them to end users in a clear, automated flow.

What you need before starting in Make.com

Set up the following prerequisites to follow the process described in the source tutorial.

• An active account on make.com.
• Access to a COVID-19 data API (as used in the original guide).
• The target destination for processed data, for example a database, Google Sheets, a website, or a chatbot.
• Basic understanding of creating and activating a scenario.

The original how‑to from Make demonstrates a low-code approach, so no advanced programming is required once your data source is available.

Plan your COVID-19 data app in Make.com

Before building modules, plan how information should move through your scenario.

Define the purpose of your Make.com scenario

Decide which type of COVID-19 insights you want to offer.

• Global overview of total cases and trends.
• Country or region-specific dashboards.
• Daily updates sent to email or chat.
• Embedded statistics for a public website.

Your objective determines what fields you will request from the API and how often the scenario will run.

Select trusted COVID-19 data sources

The original Make article uses a public data API that aggregates case numbers from official reports. When selecting an API:

• Review the documentation for available endpoints and fields.
• Confirm update frequency and data granularity.
• Check rate limits so you can set a safe schedule in your Make scenario.
• Verify if API keys or authentication are required.

Reliable data sources are essential because your app will replicate their information directly.

Build the core COVID-19 scenario in Make.com

Once you have a plan and data source, you can recreate the general pattern of the tutorial scenario.

1. Create a new scenario

1. Sign in to your make.com account.
2. Click to create a new scenario from the dashboard.
3. Open the scenario editor to add modules.

The scenario canvas will represent every step of your COVID-19 automation, from data collection to delivery.

2. Add a scheduler trigger in Make.com

Your app needs fresh data, so start with a scheduling trigger.

1. Add the Scheduler module as the first block.
2. Set how often to run the scenario, for example every 15 minutes, hourly, or daily.
3. Consider API limits and your users’ needs when choosing frequency.

The scheduler runs your scenario automatically, so you do not need to manually start it whenever you want updated statistics.

3. Connect the COVID-19 data API

After the scheduler, connect a module that calls your chosen API, similar to the approach in the official guide.

1. Add an HTTP or dedicated app module, depending on the integration available.
2. Enter the API endpoint URL for COVID-19 statistics.
3. Include query parameters for country, region, or date ranges if supported.
4. Configure authentication such as API keys when required.

Run the module once to retrieve sample data. This helps you inspect fields like confirmed cases, deaths, recoveries, active cases, and update timestamps.

4. Map and transform retrieved data

The original Make tutorial shows how to take raw data from the response and format it for specific use cases.

• Use JSON or Iterator modules if your response contains lists of countries or regions.
• Map key values such as country name, total cases, and daily change into standard variables.
• Apply simple calculations if needed, such as percentage change or fatality rate.
• Normalize date formats so all destinations receive consistent timestamps.

This step is crucial because downstream tools, such as spreadsheets or web apps, rely on predictable fields and formats.

Send COVID-19 data to your app from Make.com

With clean data in your scenario, the next step is delivering it to users.

5. Store information in a database or sheet

The original guide explains that storing data allows you to maintain history and build charts.

• Connect a module for Google Sheets, Airtable, or your database.
• Map key metrics from the API response into columns or fields.
• Choose whether to append new rows or update existing ones based on country or date.

This storage layer becomes the foundation for dashboards, reports, and visualizations.

6. Update dashboards or web pages

Once information is stored, you can use additional modules to keep front-end experiences in sync.

• Push data into a CMS or website via API.
• Refresh BI dashboards by updating connected data sources.
• Feed statistics into a chatbot or notification system.

The source tutorial shows how fully automated updates remove the need for manual content edits whenever case numbers change.

7. Notify users about key COVID-19 changes

You can extend the core scenario with alerts and notifications.

• Compare the latest numbers with previous runs using filters and conditional logic.
• Send messages via email, Slack, or other apps when thresholds are exceeded.
• Deliver summarized daily digests instead of raw numbers if your audience prefers high-level overviews.

These alerting patterns are built on the same real-time data flow you created earlier in your Make environment.

Test, monitor, and improve your Make.com scenario

After reproducing the main building blocks, you should test and refine your automation.

Test the full COVID-19 data flow

1. Run the scenario once manually in the editor.
2. Inspect each module to make sure data is mapped correctly.
3. Verify that your destination systems display accurate and up-to-date numbers.

Correct mapping issues early to avoid propagating incorrect statistics to end users.

Monitor your Make.com operations

In ongoing use, you should monitor execution logs and performance.

• Check for API errors or rate limit messages.
• Review scenario history to confirm that runs complete on schedule.
• Adjust frequency or filters if you notice bottlenecks or noisy updates.

Fine-tuning these details ensures your COVID-19 app remains stable even as data sources evolve.

Use the original Make.com tutorial and further resources

This how-to guide summarizes the structure of the official COVID-19 scenario while maintaining flexibility for different destinations and interfaces.

• Follow the original step-by-step example on the official page: COVID-19 app: Real-time data for your project.
• Explore additional automation patterns and consulting insights at Consultevo.

By following the structure described here and in the original resource, you can create a robust COVID-19 data app that automatically collects, transforms, and distributes critical statistics using the low-code tools available in your Make workspace.

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