- #1
JT Smith
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Maybe this is a dumb question, but why are there fewer reported Covid-19 cases and deaths on weekends?
Coronavirus reported cases/deaths pattern (why fewer on weekends?)
- Thread starter JT Smith
- Start date
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- coronavirus covid-19
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Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the observed pattern of fewer reported Covid-19 cases and deaths on weekends. Participants explore potential reasons for this trend, including administrative processes and staffing levels during weekends.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Debate/contested
Main Points Raised
- Some participants propose that fewer reported cases and deaths on weekends may be due to a reduction in administrative staff available to process patient information.
- Others argue that the backlog of data processing could lead to delays in reporting, causing numbers to appear lower on weekends.
- A participant suggests that hospitals typically have only essential personnel on weekends, which may affect data entry and reporting.
- One participant notes that they do not see the same trend in their local data dashboard, indicating variability in data reporting practices.
- Another participant expresses a preference for tagging incidents with the date of occurrence rather than the date of data entry, highlighting a concern about the accuracy of reported timelines.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants generally agree that there may be a connection between staffing levels and data processing on weekends, but there is no consensus on the extent of this trend or its implications. Some participants do not observe the same pattern in their data, indicating disagreement on the overall trend.
Contextual Notes
Limitations include potential differences in data reporting practices across regions and the impact of administrative processes on the timeliness of reported cases and deaths.
- #2
berkeman
Admin
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Can you post a link to the data you are looking at? I don't necessarily see that trend on my EMS Dashboard for Santa Clara County in Northern California...
https://www.sccgov.org/sites/covid19/Pages/dashboard.aspx
https://www.sccgov.org/sites/covid19/Pages/dashboard.aspx
- #3
gleem
Science Advisor
Education Advisor
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I noticed it too. One thought is that during the weekend there are fewer administrative staff members to process patient info so it all piles up and takes several days for them to work through it and send it to the registry.
EDIT: Hospitals usually only have essential patient care, security, or housekeeping personnel on weekends. Regular outpatient services are closed. Non patient care departments like human resources, engineering/maintenance and especially the patient record department are closed or only on call so some things are put off until Monday.
EDIT: Hospitals usually only have essential patient care, security, or housekeeping personnel on weekends. Regular outpatient services are closed. Non patient care departments like human resources, engineering/maintenance and especially the patient record department are closed or only on call so some things are put off until Monday.
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- #4
JT Smith
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berkeman said:
It's certainly more difficult to discern that pattern in the graph you posted.
I can see it in the world daily totals posted below as well U.S. daily totals.
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/worldwide-graphs/#daily-cases
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/worldwide-graphs/#daily-deaths
(from washingtonpost.com)
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- #5
JT Smith
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- 671
gleem said:
That makes sense. Thanks.
EDIT: Although if it were up to me I'd tag the incidents with the date of occurrence instead of the date the data were entered.
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