California Virus-Fighting Efforts Hampered by Data Delays
upstart writes in with an IRC submission:
California virus-fighting efforts hampered by data delays:
California has stopped removing or adding to a list of counties facing more restrictions on businesses and schools as it tries to resolve a technical problem with the state's coronavirus testing database, health officials said Wednesday.
The state has recorded a highest-in-the-nation 525,000 positive tests. But California health officials say the true number is even higher. They don't know how much so until they can add backlogged testing data and fix the problem with the California Reportable Disease Information Exchange, also known as CalREDIE.
The incomplete data in the nation's most populous state has hampered public health officials' ability to follow up with those who test positive and contact people who have been around them to limit the spread.
"Back in February and March when we didn't have enough testing, I would say we felt blind," said Dr. Sara Cody, Santa Clara County's public health director. "I would say now we're back to feeling blind. We don't know how the epidemic is trending."
Read more of this story at SoylentNews.