HEALTH

Omicron wave prompts media to rethink which data to report

Jan 12, 2022, 9:56 AM

FILE - People line up and receive test kits to detect COVID-19 as they are distributed in New York ...

FILE - People line up and receive test kits to detect COVID-19 as they are distributed in New York on Dec. 23, 2021. The COVID-19 surge caused by the omicron variant means once-reliable indicators of the pandemic's progress are much less so, complicating how the media is able to tell the story. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle, File)

(AP Photo/Craig Ruttle, File)

NEW YORK (AP) — For two years, coronavirus case counts and hospitalizations have been widely used barometers of the pandemic’s march across the world.

But the omicron wave is making a mess of the usual statistics, forcing news organizations to rethink the way they report such figures.

“It’s just a data disaster,” said Katherine Wu, staff writer who covers COVID-19 for The Atlantic magazine.

The number of case counts soared over the holidays, an expected development given the emergence of a variant more transmissible than its predecessors.

Yet these counts only reflect what is reported by health authorities. They do not include most people who test themselves at home, or are infected without even knowing about it. Holidays and weekends also lead to lags in reported cases.

If you could add all those numbers up — and you can’t — case counts would likely be substantially higher.

For that reason, The Associated Press has recently told its editors and reporters to avoid emphasizing case counts in stories about the disease. That means, for example, no more stories focused solely on a particular country or state setting a one-day record for number of cases, because that claim has become unreliable.

Throughout the media, there has been more caution in use of official case counts.

An NBC News story on Monday about the skyrocketing number of COVID cases relied on a one-week average of case counts. A Tuesday story simply referred to a “tidal wave” of cases.

During its coverage of a Senate hearing with health experts on Tuesday, the case counts CNN flashed onscreen were two-week averages. MSNBC used a variety of measurements, including a listing of the five states with highest reported numbers over the past three days.

On its website’s “Guide to the Pandemic,” The Washington Post used a seven-day average of cases and compared that number to last Tuesday’s, showing a 56% increase. The New York Times used a daily count in an online chart, yet also included a two-week trend in both cases and deaths.

An AP story Saturday by Jennifer Sinco Kelleher and Terry Tang headlined, “Omicron explosion spurs nationwide breakdown of services” was full of statistics from across the United States on hospitalization rates or employees calling out sick from work. The case count metric was not used.

“We definitely wanted people to go a little deeper and be more specific in reporting,” said Josh Hoffner, the news editor who helps oversee AP’s virus coverage.

Many news organizations are debating how best to use statistics now during the omicron surge, Wu said. But there are no easy answers.

“It’s how journalism works,” Wu said. “We need the data. We need to show receipts to readers. But I try to do it carefully.”

Hospitalization and death rates are considered by some to be a more reliable picture of COVID-19’s current impact on society. Yet even the usefulness of those numbers has been called into question in recent days. In many cases, hospitalizations are incidental: there are people being admitted for other reasons and are surprised to find they test positive for COVID, said Tanya Lewis, senior editor for health and medicine at Scientific American.

Despite the imperfections, case counts should not be ignored, said Gary Schwitzer, a University of Minnesota School of Public Health instructor and publisher of HealthNewsReview.org, which monitors health coverage in the media.

The numbers illustrate trends, giving a picture of which areas of the country are being hit particularly hard or where the surge may have peaked, he said. They can predict broader societal impacts, like where hospitals are about to be slammed or where there will be worker shortages.

“These are stories that may not be told adequately if only hospitalizations and deaths are emphasized,” Schwitzer said.

That’s a point emphasized in AP’s internal guidance, as well.

“They do have value,” Hoffner said. “We don’t want people to eliminate mention of case counts.”

There are some in public health and journalism who believe the current surge — painful as it is — may augur good news. It could be a sign that COVID-19 is headed toward becoming an endemic disease that people learn to live with, rather than being a disruptive pandemic, wrote David Leonhardt and Ashley Wu in The New York Times.

But if the past two years have taught anything, it’s about the danger in predictions, Lewis said.

“We’ve been surprised time and again,” she said. “We don’t know everything about the course of the pandemic. We still need to be humble and keep an open mind in terms of where things are going.”

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Health

Reformer Pilates is a type of Pilates that uses reformer machines. These machines have adjustable s...

Michelle Lee

What is reformer Pilates, and why is it good for us?

Let’s Get Moving Host Maria Shilaos spoke with Collin and Heidi Christensen of BODYBAR Pilates to learn how reformer Pilates is beneficial.

9 hours ago

A recovering alcoholic shares his story...

Mitchell von Puttkammer

Not even a single drop of alcohol is healthy, new analysis shows

An analysis by The New York Times is debunking the idea that alcohol is healthy in any form or amount. So much for the French Paradox.

1 day ago

FILE - A radiologist uses a magnifying glass to check mammograms for breast cancer in Los Angeles, ...

Emma Keddington

Breast cancer rates increase in women under 50

Dr. David Peterson, a radiologist with Intermountain Health, breaks down a new study that finds breast cancer rates are rising.

3 days ago

Blake Bockholt talks about the challenges of living with long COVID at the Cannon Health Building i...

EMILY ASHCRAFT, KSL.com

1 in 12 Utahns suffers from long COVID, health department study says

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services released a report on Wednesday saying long COVID is significantly impacting many Utahns.

4 days ago

(Ray Boren)...

Mariah Maynes

Bat found in Pioneer Park tests positive for rabies

The bat was found in Pioneer Park on Sept. 27, and may have been handled by people in the park.

4 days ago

A deer looks underfed after contracting chronic wasting disease. (Utah Division of Wildlife Resourc...

Mariah Maynes

DWR advises hunters check deer meat for chronic wasting disease

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources advised hunters to have deer and elk harvested from certain locations tested for chronic wasting disease.

4 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Tax Harassment...

Law Offices of Jordan F. Wilcox

Is the IRS harassing you? 6 things you need to know

If you are receiving threatening letters and wage garnishments from the IRS, hiring an attorney can help ensure your rights are protected.

Photo courtesy of Nightmare on 13th...

Nightmare on 13th

Here’s why Nightmare on 13th is the best haunted house in Utah

Fall brings Halloween, and Halloween brings Haunted Houses. There’s no better Haunted House than Nightmare on 13th – here’s why!

USA, Utah, Bear Lake. The deep blue of Utah's Bear Lake contrasts with autumn foliage....

Bear Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau

Experience Bear Lake’s all-year activities

We break down Bear Lake's four-season recreational offerings so the whole family can enjoy their time there any time of the year.

Water park with a vintage VW bug in front with a surfboard on top...

Cowabunga Bay

Spend the last days of summer at Cowabunga Bay! 

Cowabunga Bay is one of Utah's premier water parks that features water slides, a lazy river, a kids' cove, and a beach with lounge chairs.

A young woman smiles while reading the menu at a lakeside restaurant, enjoying the panoramic view o...

Bear Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau

The best restaurants to try in Bear Lake

Save this guide to the best restaurants in Bear Lake when you need to find a place to dine during your next visit.

Female leg stepping on weigh scales. Healthy lifestyle, food and sport concept....

Health Utah

Sustainable weight loss: the science-backed way to achieve it

Learn more about Debbie's weight loss journey with Health Utah, who have a unique weight loss philosophy for success.

Omicron wave prompts media to rethink which data to report