now that the Trumpies are changing coronavirus reports from CDC to HHS...

[0rganism]

...with the obvious intention of cooking the data, i have a question or two

is there any other data clearinghouse that aggregates state- and county-level data independently of CDC or HHS? will there be any way to cross-check the numbers we get from HHS? will hospitals be able to report bulk data (no personal patient info) to media or media-available sources?

i honestly can't believe i'm asking this.

[patricia92243]

1. I am wondering if someone can sue them under the Freedom of Information Act?

[NurseJackie]

10. Probably, but it takes time, and the data would be "stale" and useful only for historical context...

Probably, but it takes time, and the data would be "stale" and useful only for historical context of what PREVIOUSLY HAPPENED weeks earlier. It would not be useful for spotting trends, making predictions, mobilizing to respond to "hot spots", etc.

[Phoenix61]

2. I still think the states will get the data about

cases. Anyone know how to find out?

[drray23]

3. pretty much all of them...

worldometers for example. They all pull from state and county level data.

[0rganism]

4. oh good - i thought we were going to lose worldometers

thanks for the reassurance!

[2naSalit]

6. And they are all

linked/hosted by ESRI which should be archiving the info, or would if asked. There are other ways of protecting and keeping the data safe.

[Baitball Blogger]

11. No idea what De Santis will do to cook the numbers in Florida,

but I have been collecting my county's numbers from the start. And we do have the advantage of that whistle blower who is keeping track of the numbers. If they do something rash, she'll let us know.

[LizBeth]

15. So we will be able to see if the numbers are off, which I will be curious about.

[2naSalit]

5. Congress will be addressing this...

This is illegal. I suspect we will be hearing about it by tomorrow.

[TheBlackAdder]

7. I just wonder how Trump has the authority to tell hospitals where to send their data to.

[yonder]

9. My guess is that he doesn't, per se

With public hospitals, extortion in the form of withholding funding may be at work and to a lesser extent, private hospitals as well.

Seat of the pants, wild ass guess, though.

[CentralMass]

8. He was talking about getting the National Guard involved.

[0rganism]

13. my brother works for NMDOH - the NM guard were helping out there May-June iirc

he spoke highly of their ability to help out with handling an overwhelming test load
i can only imagine the load has not decreased -- he'll probably welcome any assist he can get at this point, i hope they're helpful and not doing some "slow the testing down" crapola

[CentralMass]

14. I think the reference was that he was going to have the guard collect results.

[0rganism]

19. mmm, could be extremely dangerous

if the Trumpsters can cook numbers at the source, that's a lot harder to detect

[peggysue2]

12. Trump and his goons can hide the data

But they cannot hide the suffering or the fact that hospitals will be overrun, supplies will dwindle and deaths will rise.

As people have been pointing out: You can't gaslight a virus.

Trump will try because his only focus is getting schools and businesses open, hoping against hope that this will turn his election chances around. But reality is a hard mistress.

I share your disbelief. We are living in surreal times.

[0rganism]

16. i think the goal of manipulating data would be to force re-opening before November

they could claim some arbitrary "curve-flattening" even with a high caseload, and we wouldn't know, and Trump could use it as a basis to demand public schools open.
but if there are alternate reliable sources, that deadly gaslighting becomes much more difficult. i wonder if Trump is aware of that? someone on his team must be...

[peggysue2]

18. At this point, I think they're willing to try anything

Desperation will provoke all manner of medically dangerous decisions and moves, none of which inspire confidence. Trump and his enablers apparently believe they can reshape reality. The Kool-Aid/QAnon faction may buy into that but if the virus spins totally out of control--beyond current hotspots--Trump won't be able to rein things in.

The risk is enormous for the entire country.

[fleur-de-lisa]

17. Epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University have been collecting data directly from the states.

[ProfessorGAC]

20. Insurance Companies Get Data Directly

Not at all a government function.
They get to know why the health costs are being requested, and they get to know, for life insurance claims, why somebody died.
With those mentioned above, & private entities entitled to inform, any attempt to cook the books will fail.