All tagged covid data

Here's how the California Hospital Association counts extra beds

Here's how the California Hospital Association counts extra beds

Tatiana Prophet
Public Health

In early December, we stumbled on internal data maintained by the California Hospital Association. It appears our access was granted due to an oversight, because when we requested more information, we were told that the information we accessed was not available to the general public. We have re-entered the data into the chart below.

It’s important to note that many of these beds are licensed, but not staffed. We called some of the more overwhelmed hospitals, namely Keck Hospital at USC. The supervisor on duty was surprised to hear that they had 210 “surge” beds listed. Most likely this is because they are not yet staffed.

See “The L.A. County bed shortage seems more like a budget problem.”

Is Covid surging in the state of Montana?

Is Covid surging in the state of Montana?

Tatiana Prophet
Public Health

Of all the positive cases in Montana, the mortality rate is hovering around 1 percent — not of the total population but of all positive cases in the state.

Like other governors around the country, Montana Gov. Steve Bullock announced restrictions this week, putting in place a statewide mask mandate starting Friday.

The Associated Press reported that the restrictions came as the “virus surges” in Montana. Does the data really show a surge? It’s hard to say definitively, since nationwide, cases and deaths are counted even when there is no laboratory-confirmed Covid test. As long as a doctor puts "Covid” as a cause on the death certificate, even if the determination is based on symptoms alone, that death is counted as a Covid-19 death.

So back to Montana: the word “surge” can be misleading since it’s really fatalities and hospitalizations that matter. Yes, positive cases have surged, by 40 percent since October 30. The first two weeks in November saw the 40 percent growth rate in cases, from 32,801 cases to 46,061, an increase of more than 13,000 cases. But that’s not the full picture; the number of Covid-related hospitalizations and deaths are important, too. In fact, they’re more important because they have to do with the ultimate outcome. Of all the positive cases in each time period in Montana, the fact remains that the mortality rate is hovering around 1 percent — not of the total population but of all positive cases in the state.

The charts show that there have been zero deaths for Montanans age 0 to 29; and for the other age groups, death rates are very low — until the 70+ age range. And for the latest numbers reported, the median age of Covid-related deaths is 78. The average life expectancy of a male in the U.S. as of 2017 was 78.1.

The doctors are right: data shows young people aren't dying of Covid-19

The doctors are right: data shows young people aren't dying of Covid-19

Tatiana Prophet
Covid-19

@back2facts wire

Cases are exploding in the Sunbelt and Midwest, but they’re largely in young people. Look at the latest data on Florida and California.

In Florida, no one has died under the age of 4. In California, no one has died under the age of 17.

And hospitalizations are holding steady in Florida. No huge spikes in number of ICU patients, and while some hospitals have very low vacancy in the ICU, each county has other hospitals that can handle the demand. Miami-Dade, the hardest-hit county, has about 1,000 beds ready to convert to intensive care if needed.

In Florida, 45 percent of all Covid deaths were of patients or health care workers in long-term care facilities. In California, 37 percent of all Covid deaths were from those in long-term care facilities.