An urgent call to collect data related to COVID-19 and Indigenous populations globally.

### Summary box SARS-CoV-2 which causes COVID-19 emerged in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and has now reached pandemic status.1 As of 31 January 2021, COVID-19 has been detected in 188 countries/regions and all continents except Antarctica. A total of more than 100 million cases have been detected so far with some countries showing disproportionately more cases than others, in particular the USA, Brazil, Russia, India, Peru and Mexico.2 Currently, it is understood that SARS-CoV-2 is spread through respiratory droplets and direct contact.1 The reproduction number (R) of SARS-CoV-2 has been estimated to be in the range of 1.40–6.49 with a mean of 3.28. Any virus with an R above 1 is indicative of a virus with increasing number of infections.3 Globally thus far, efforts to curb the spread of SARS-CoV-2 have resulted with varying success. Countries such as China, Australia and New Zealand, which have implemented widespread lockdown of social gathering, restricted movement and quarantine (for returning residents), seem to have curbed the early spread of SARS-CoV-2,2 although are susceptible to recurring waves …