Where can I find the most reliable, up-to-date numbers on confirmed cases?
There are several resources out there that compile the information from multiple sources. When evaluating any information, please remember to critically assess:
- The source itself and their goals
- How the data and findings are described
- What has been reported, and what has not; and
- The quality of the information
Globally –> World Health Organization (WHO)
Globally –> Abdul Latif Jameel Institute for Disease and Emergency Analytics/Imperial College (J-IDEA): https://www.imperial.ac.uk/jameel-institute/
United States –>
- Coronavirus.gov – Combined White House/Dept of Health & Human Services/CDC resource, this is your starting point for information & resources at the federal
- Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
NOTE: The CDC is providing accurate numbers for the country as a whole, but if you want more up-to-date information on a daily basis, please check the department of health or public health websites for your particular state or county. If you click the CDC link above, and then click a state, it will bring you to that department of health’s website.
Washington State –> Washington State Department of Health
NOTE: The state of Washington’s department of health website also has data broken down by county.
King County –> Public Health – Seattle & King County
Why do some numbers vary between sources (NY Times, Politico, nCov2019.live, etc)?
It depends on two main things – when you’re looking, what you’re looking at, and where the numbers are coming from. Some sources update only once a day, others multiple times a day. Some pull from multiple inputs, or count confirmed cases in addition to information gained from reporting and interviews with credible sources. Some may have more than one laboratory in a given area that may be reporting with different frequencies during a given day. Your best best is to stick with the public health authority at the level your question is directed to, but consulting multiple sources like the ones listed above can give you the big picture view of this pandemic.
John’s Hopkins has a live tracker that provides interesting insights.
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The Optimistic Scientist 