Glitch causes California COVID-19 cases to be under reported
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EMILY: SITTING OUTSIDE BOTTLE AND BARLOW IN MIDTOWN, THIS BAR AND BARBERSHOP OWNER IS FRUSTRATED. >> IT’S HEARTBREAKING. I SPENT 15 YEARS BUILDING MY CAREER. EMILY: THE BARBERSHOP HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR A MONTH. THE BAR SHUTDOWN SINCE MARCH. WHEN HE READ ABOUT THE DROP IN CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID-9, IT WAS A BREAK OF GOOD NEWS THAT QUICKLY WENT AWAY. >> I WAS FEELING PRETTY GOOD. AND THEN SOUL CRUSHING WHEN I SAW THAT IT’S NOT ACCURATE. >> WE ARE LIKELY TO SEE THOSE NUMBERS -- EMILY: GAVIN NEWSOM REPORTED THE STATE’S LOWEST NUMBER OF COVID-19 CASES IN TWO WEEKS. >> THERE’S A SPECIFIC COMPONENT THAT FEEDS INFORMATION. EMILY: HEALTH OFFICIALS BACKTRACKED, SAYING A GLITCH IN THE SYSTEM LED TO UNDERREPORTING OF N CASES, MAKING IT TOUGHER BUSINESS OWNER STRUGGLING TO STAY AFLOAT TO TRUST THE NUMBERS. I TRY TO LEAVE IT UP TO THE PROFESSIONALS. IT DEFINITELY STARTS TO MAKE YOUR CONFIDENCE WAYNE. MAKES YOU QUESTION, DO THEY KNOW WHAT THEY’RE TALKING ABOUT? >> THE LIKELIHOOD THAT YOU WILL RUN INTO SOME DATA QUALITY ISSUES IS VERY COMMON. EMILY: THE CHAIR OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND BUSINESS ANALYTICS AT SAC STATE. HE SAYS ANY TIME DATA IS BEING COLLECTED ON SUCH A LARGE SCALE AT SUCH A FAST-PACED, ERRORS ARE NORMAL. >> THE BAD NEWS IS, WE DON’T KNOW THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS HAPPENED. WE DON’T KNOW THAT IT’S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN. WE ARE DEALING WITH SYSTEMS THAT ARE BEING USED IN WAYS THEY WERE NEVER DESIGNED TO BE USED. EMILY: THERE IS GOOD NEWS. THE INACCURACIES WERE CAUGHT QUICKLY. >> IS BEING ADDRESSED. THE THINGS THAT CAUSE THESE TYPES OF ERRORS TO COME UP ARE PART OF THIS TYPE OF SYSTEM. >> WE KNOW THE INADEQUACIES. EMILY: IT’S FRUSTRATING. NOT JUST THESE -- BECAUSE THESE ARE THE NUMBERS THAT WILL REOPEN HIS BUSINESS, BUT FOR THE PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE VIRUS. STATISTICS MATTER TO THOSE FAMILIES AS WELL. IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT THE BUSINESSES.
Glitch causes California COVID-19 cases to be under reported
As California works to slow the spread of the coronavirus, top doctors said they have discovered a technical glitch in the system. That means the infection rate could be higher. The problem is causing a lag in the tally of novel coronavirus test results, which is making it more difficult for county health officials to track its spread. This is one of the metrics used by state and county health officials to set policies and plans to reopen. A Sacramento business owner said it makes him question what officials are saying.Get the full story in the video above.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —As California works to slow the spread of the coronavirus, top doctors said they have discovered a technical glitch in the system.
That means the infection rate could be higher.
The problem is causing a lag in the tally of novel coronavirus test results, which is making it more difficult for county health officials to track its spread. This is one of the metrics used by state and county health officials to set policies and plans to reopen.
A Sacramento business owner said it makes him question what officials are saying.
Get the full story in the video above.