Nine areas of data we need to manage the pandemic
Will we ever get control of this pandemic? We can, but better data will go a long way in helping us get there. Here are nine areas where I’d like to see improvement.
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Reflecting on 100 issues of COVID-19 data reporting
100 weeks ago, I wrote the first issue of this newsletter on Substack. Here’s a brief reflection on what I’ve learned about COVID-19 reporting since then.
Read MoreUnpacking U.S. data gaps and lack of public health action with Jason Salemi
Last week, I had a new story published at FiveThirtyEight about the challenges a new CDC forecasting center is facing. Here’s one of the interviews I did for that piece, with epidemiologist Jason Salemi.
Read MoreFAQ: BA.4 and BA.5, potentially the most transmissible Omicron subvariants yet
America’s current COVID-19 surge is being driven by BA.2 and its sublineage BA.2.12.1. But there are other versions of Omicron out there to which we need to pay attention—namely, BA.4 and BA.5. Here’s a brief FAQ on these two subvariants, including why scientists are concerned about them and where they’re spreading in the U.S.
Read MoreWe need more data on who’s getting Paxlovid
Last week, I shared a new page from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), reporting statistics on COVID-19 therapeutic distribution in the U.S. The new dataset is a helpful step, but it falls far short of the information we actually need to examine who has access to COVID-19 treatments (particularly Paxlovid) and address potential health equity issues.
Read MoreSources and updates, June 26
Sources and updates for the week of June 26 include Paxlovid distribution, booster shot uptake, and a guide to government COVID-19 documents.
Read MoreStaggering new Long COVID research, and a correction
New data from the Household Pulse Survey suggests that almost 20% of Americans who got COVID-19 are currently experiencing Long COVID symptoms. The Household Pulse Survey is a long-running Census project that provides data on how the pandemic has impacted Americans.
Read MoreNational numbers, June 26
America’s Omicron subvariant surge continues to be in a plateau this week, with national COVID-19 case rates, hospitalization rates, and wastewater trends remaining fairly level or showing slight declines.
Read MoreCOVID source callout: Dr. Fauci, please take a week off
This past Wednesday, the NIH announced that Dr. Anthony Fauci has tested positive for COVID-19. His symptoms are reportedly mild so far, but why is he still working from home?
Read MoreSources and updates, June 19
Sources and updates for the week of June 19 include data on testing trends, vaccines for kids, and Long COVID risk.
Read MoreAs Omicron keeps mutating, variant surveillance remains important
Sharing perspectives from three variant experts on how to keep monitoring the way that SARS-CoV-2 is mutating, as bonus material from a recent story about BA.4 and BA.5.
Read MoreNational numbers, June 19
National COVID-19 cases appeared to plateau this week, as some parts of the country seem to have peaked in their Omicron subvariants wave while others are still reporting increasing transmission.
Read MoreCOVID source callout: The Morning
A recent edition of “The Morning,” the New York Times’ flagship newsletter, painted a misleading picture of COVID-19 disparities in the U.S.
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