The county-level testing dataset published by CMS has become a regular topic for this newsletter since it was released in early September. As a refresher for newer readers: CMS publishes both total PCR tests and test positivity rates for every county in the country; the dataset is intended as a resource for nursing home administrators, who are required to test their residents and staff at regular intervals based on the status of their county. This past Monday, October 5, I was pleasantly surprised to find a new update posted on CMS’ COVID-19 data page.

This past Monday, September 28, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updated the county-level testing dataset which the agency is publishing as a resource for nursing home administrators.

The CMS recently released a new dataset which provides test positivity rates for U.S. counties. The dataset was updated this past week, with some methodology changes.

On September 3, 2020, the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) posted a county-level testing dataset. The dataset specifically provides test positivity rates for every U.S. county, for the week of August 27 to September 2. This is huge. It’s, like, I had to lie down after I saw it, huge. No federal health agency has posted county-level testing data since the pandemic started.