Table of Contents
Introduction
In this article, we will be providing you with health updates regarding the current state of the pandemic. We have recently published redesigned tracking pages to better reflect the ongoing situation. You can find the new pages on our website here. We have made these changes to ensure that our readers have access to the most accurate and up-to-date information about COVID-19.
Sources
The data presented in this article comes from reputable sources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state governments, and the U.S. Census Bureau. It is important to note that the CDC reported on November 30th that booster doses are sometimes misclassified as first doses, which may overestimate first dose coverage among adults.
Hot Spots Map
The hot spots map provides valuable information about the share of the population with new reported COVID-19 cases over the last week. This map allows you to understand which areas are currently experiencing higher levels of transmission. It is sourced from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Census Bureau. However, please be aware that data prior to October 2020 was unreliable, and data reported in the most recent seven days may be incomplete.
Hospital Admissions by Age Group
We have included a chart that shows the number of people per 100,000 that were newly admitted to a hospital with COVID-19 each day, categorized by age group. This data is obtained from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is important to note that dips and spikes in the data could be due to inconsistent reporting by hospitals.
Test Positivity Rates and Hospitalizations
Higher test positivity rates indicate that many infections may not be reported, even if individuals are tested at home. This undercount of cases can result in a more severe impact of the pandemic. On the other hand, the number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 is a more reliable measure, as testing is typically more consistent in hospitals. For more information about the data, you can refer to our dedicated article on our website.
COVID-19 Data Overview
Our COVID-19 data overview includes information from state and local health agencies, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The data includes cases, deaths, test positivity rates, hospitalizations, and ICU patients. Test positivity, hospitalizations, ICU numbers, and deaths are presented as seven-day averages. It is important to note that test positivity is based only on PCR test results reported to the federal government. Hospitalization and ICU data may not yet be available for yesterday’s date, as they are subject to historical revisions.
Vaccination Coverage
We also provide information about vaccination coverage. This data is sourced from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state governments, and the U.S. Census Bureau. It is important to keep in mind that the CDC reported on November 30th that booster doses are sometimes misclassified as first doses, which may overestimate first dose coverage among adults.
County-Level Data
Our county-level data provides a detailed breakdown of COVID-19 cases, deaths, test positivity rates, hospitalizations, and vaccinations. This data is sourced from state and local health agencies, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Census Bureau. The daily average for cases, test positivity, and hospitalizations is calculated based on data reported in the last seven days. The daily average for deaths at the county level is calculated over a period of 30 days. Please note that vaccination data may not be available for some counties.
Top COVID-19 Hotspots
We have compiled a table that ranks the places with the highest number of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents in the last seven days. The data in this table is sourced from various state and local health agencies. It is important to highlight that statewide data often updates more frequently than county-level data and may not equal the sum of county-level figures. Additionally, the charts in the table show changes in daily averages and are each displayed on their own scale. The state releases new county data once a week, and prior to June 2021, it released new data daily.
Calendar of COVID-19 Data
Our calendar provides COVID-19 data through 2022. However, please note that it will no longer be updated in 2023. We will continue to report the data for other displays on our website. The data in the calendar is sourced from reliable sources, including state reports and health districts or county governments. It is important to note that the state releases new county data once a week, and prior to June 2021, it released new data daily.
About the Data
The data presented in this article is a combination of confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases and deaths. Confirmed cases and deaths are individuals whose coronavirus infections were confirmed by a molecular laboratory test. Probable cases and deaths include individuals who meet specific criteria for testing, symptoms, and exposure, as defined by national and local governments. It is important to keep in mind that these numbers may be an undercount of the true toll.
We acknowledge that governments often revise data or report a large increase in cases or deaths from unspecified days without historical revisions, which can cause irregular patterns in the reported figures. To ensure accuracy, we exclude these anomalies from our seven-day averages whenever possible. Additionally, variations in reporting schedules, such as around holidays, can cause irregular patterns in averages. We adjust the number of days included in an average to account for these irregularities.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this article provides health updates on the current state of the pandemic. We have redesigned our tracking pages to provide our readers with accurate and up-to-date information. The data presented in this article is sourced from reputable sources and includes information on cases, deaths, test positivity rates, hospitalizations, ICU patients, and vaccination coverage. We hope that this information helps you stay informed about the ongoing situation. For more detailed information, please visit our website health-news-today.com.