Table 1 Data reporting inconsistencies
From: Challenges encountered in comparing international policy responses to COVID-19 and their effects
Data type | Inconsistencies in data reporting |
|---|---|
COVID-19 testing [15] | Number of people tested vs number of tests Inclusion criteria for test results vs subset of test type Different types of tests used (viral testing: RT-PCR or antigen tests for current infection vs antibody tests for previous infection) Test result submission frequency/reporting times (weekly, daily, etc.) |
COVID-19 cases | Different inclusion criteria for total cases of COVID-19—some sources include only confirmed cases, whereas some sources include probable and confirmed cases in their data |
COVID-19 deaths [27] | Not all deaths outside of hospitals accounted for Actual death toll likely higher than number of confirmed deaths |
COVID-19 reporting standards and timing | Changing reporting requirements [29, 30] Varying reporting frequencies [8, 28] Delays in reporting [28] |