Last spring, University of New Orleans political science professor Eric van Holm began studying the data the state of Louisiana was publishing weekly on the number of coronavirus cases. At the time, he was serving on the Louisiana COVID-19 Health Equity Taskforce and co-chairing the Policy and Regulatory Affairs subcommittee.

Van Holm, whose expertise lies in economic development and neighborhood change, said he wanted to use some of his background studying urban and community demographics to help understand the problems related to COVID-19.