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Many media outlets - from CBS to CNN - are reporting, mostly without context, on the “largest single-day increase in coronavirus cases” in Texas.
And excuse the language, but this awful, fear-mongering, false journalism is fucking infuriating. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-reports-largest-single-day-increase-in-coronavirus-cases-2020-05-17/ 1/
And excuse the language, but this awful, fear-mongering, false journalism is fucking infuriating. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-reports-largest-single-day-increase-in-coronavirus-cases-2020-05-17/ 1/
First, note that this is not the largest single day in cases. This is an increase, from a very low day to a slightly higher day. 1,800 total on Saturday. Today? Down to 1,005. Texas has 1,679 cases per million residents. That puts it 38th in America. https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/ 2/
But ok - how did we get to 1,800 Texas positives tests Saturday?
Some important notes - as pointed out by @TexasObserver. First, we have widely available antibody tests now in Texas. And THOSE positive tests (which are not active cases) ARE counted. 3/ https://www.texasobserver.org/covid-19-tests-combine-texas/amp/
Some important notes - as pointed out by @TexasObserver. First, we have widely available antibody tests now in Texas. And THOSE positive tests (which are not active cases) ARE counted. 3/ https://www.texasobserver.org/covid-19-tests-combine-texas/amp/
Also, a one day spike in cases like Texas had Saturday often can be attributed to a spike in tests. And guess what. After averaging in the 12,000 range for a while, testing has more than doubled beginning Friday this week. More tests = more cases. 4/ https://www.texasobserver.org/covid-19-tests-combine-texas/amp/
If you want to know whether there is REALLY a coronavirus spike in Texas, you’d see it in an increase in hospitalizations.
Guess what? I mean just look at this from the IHME site. It’s incredible. Texas is fine. https://covid19.healthdata.org/united-states-of-america/texas 5/
Guess what? I mean just look at this from the IHME site. It’s incredible. Texas is fine. https://covid19.healthdata.org/united-states-of-america/texas 5/
In Texas today there were 1,005 new coronavirus cases.
Compare that to the rest of the country. Forget the coronavirus disasters in NY, NJ, MA, CT. How about a state you barely hear about, like Minnesota.
700 new cases in Minnesota. And Texas has 5x more residents. 6/
Compare that to the rest of the country. Forget the coronavirus disasters in NY, NJ, MA, CT. How about a state you barely hear about, like Minnesota.
700 new cases in Minnesota. And Texas has 5x more residents. 6/
So respectfully, to the Acela Media that never leaves NYC and DC, and now never even leaves their beautiful homes and apartments - do better.
Cut the fear-mongering bullshit about one-day coronavirus “spikes” in red states, be honest, and do better. America demands it. /7
Cut the fear-mongering bullshit about one-day coronavirus “spikes” in red states, be honest, and do better. America demands it. /7
Tomorrow in my @FourthWatch newsletter - a deep dive into how the media has covered two large states and how they’ve dealt with coronavirus: New York and Texas.
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