The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. Since yesterday, there have been 29 new cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases being reported today is 9 more than yesterday, from which it can be inferred that, since yesterday, 20 county residents have recovered from the virus. There are 2 more county residents hospitalized with COVID-19 today than yesterday, and the number in the ICU remains the same. There has not been a death from COVID-19 reported in Columbia County since Monday, July 25.
The cases just seem to go up and up, compared to last year and yet nobody seems too concerned about wearing masks anymore.
ReplyDeleteActually, the cases have gone down since June 1 if you look at the 30 day average per 1,000,000 population.
ReplyDeleteOn June 1st, the average was 392 while the same average as of 7/27 was 172. Columbia County's most recent numbers are significantly lower than New York State (349) and the US (370).
The one caveat here is that the average number of tests performed has dropped from about 175 per day to just under 100. This brings mortality rates in to question but that's for another day.
Let's keep in mind, the unrecorded number using at home test kits. If I were you, I'd be donning a mask. Hospitals and medical offices continue the requirement, we would be wise to follow suit. I just came home following surgery, we should appreciate the concern of becoming infected. Imagine if you were scheduled for life saving surgery and it was postponed because of covid. Not much wisdom there.
ReplyDeleteSo you're saying that positive tests from in-home kits do not have to be reported? These data are not accumulated anywhere?
ReplyDeleteExactly. Positive tests resulting from home testing kits are not required to be reported. The actual numbers of infection are not accurate by a long shot. They are for private use. It is up to any given individual to decide what measures to take if that person is positive. Isolate or not. See a doctor - or, not. There hasn't been any contact tracing for months now either. If you care about your health and your family's, wear a mask.
ReplyDeleteIf positive cases are significantly under reported, that causes another issue. Assuming that deaths attributed to COVID (which is highly questionable at best) is accurate, that would drive down the mortality rate even lower than it already is. The mortality rate for Columbia County for 2022 is 0.64%, approximately the same as the rate for the U.S. as a whole (0.56%). If this is the case, we shouldn't rely on any hard data (which the government puts out and uses) and just blindly follow instructions from "The Party".
ReplyDeleteThis is what it is because a strangely sizeable vocal, hostile percentage of the population refuse to believe the science and take it seriously. Or, even care much about health. Unlike past generations who appreciated advanced scientific development and embraced it. Vaccination was not fraught by parties and politics. That's how polio and smallpox were defeated. Common sense and a dash of knowledge (the info is out there in reliable publications) should suit you well. The once hard to source quality, life saving masks are readily available as well as vaccines. Despite the accuracy or inaccuracy of government data which reflects the hostility towards it mentioned earlier, is the choices you make. Just try to get lifesaving medical care without a PCR test. Ain't happening. It's up to you.
ReplyDeleteYeah, well you didn't address my comments. That's typical.
ReplyDeleteLet's remember, it's people driving the numbers. Rattling off numbers, is only a part of the story. You asked whether home testing is required to be publicly reported. In an uncertain environment such as this, caution is not a bad idea.
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