The primary issue I see with trying to draw conclusions from state data, is the policies behind the reporting itself. Which is really a shame given all we could learn if the data were “clean”. It would be interesting to know if the OH state data reporting guidelines are better than the IN state ones. Let me explain.

 

About 1-1/2 weeks into the IN state-wide shutdown my daughter was presenting some symptoms of respiratory illness. Within 7 days, my daughter went from a sore throat to pneumonia. At that point she was Presumed Covid Positive. She was not tested due to bureaucratic rules. Regardless, her diagnosis was reported to the state. A few weeks later, the antibody blood test was made available. Her pediatrician looked into the test and determined that my daughter was a good candidate. Her antibody test came back negative. She never had it!!! Yet she is still in the IN state tally as a positive case.

 

This is not unique. Just 1 month ago, a friend of mine was also presumed positive. No test either. She has 6 kids under 18yrs old. Nobody else in her household developed symptoms, not even her husband who continued to sleep in the same room. Just like it happened at my house (I have 9 kids under 18yrs old). So, likely my friend never had it either. Yet she is still reported as a positive case in the state tally.

 

Here is another piece of interesting information. IN has several Self-Administered Drive-Through testing sites using the nasal swabs. A relative who is currently at Cleveland Clinic was given a nasal test. He cried from the pain!!! The nurse apologized and told him that the sampling, when administered as intended, is painful. I doubt any those people self-administering the test really pushed that swab up their nose, where it really hurts, and gathered a good sample.