See the bottom for links to new dashboard, old dashboard, and the announcement of new dashboard metrics.
This is the main frame from the new dashboard
As you can see above, the main concerns are “new confirmed cases per 100k” and “Covid hospital bed utilization.” Let’s look at them in more detail.
The thing about new positive cases is it is NOT relative to the number of tests done. More tests done can result in more positive tests with the same positivity rate. More on this in future analytical articles.
Here is what the metrics look like for covid hospital utilization’s.
For the covid related hospital bed utilization this chart is very interesting as it has a lot of different metrics for different levels. These metrics relate to when we would have to begin to shut down other medical facilities as you see in the new icu or hospital beds charts as we get to moderate and high there due to the increased Covid related hospitalizations. So the idea of these levels is to know when hospitals will need to start shutting down other services (which likely will cost lives too) and hopefully prevent that happening.
Things we noticed that were removed from new dashboard:
- No longer see daily death increase and trends (3 day averages for daily) – They should find a way to get that back on there near the total deaths because it’s an important measurement.
- No longer see total tests administered daily (and 3 day average) or the testing capacity in last 30 days. While this previous metric did not provide much information, the number of tests received per day would be very valuable when looking at new case numbers. I also believe there are legislative requirements about this metric. It should still be represented somewhere.
- No longer see ventilator numbers – as this treatment has become used less this is less of a concern.
- Removed Reopening progress – makes sense as the measures have all changed and that is kind of represented by the new main dashboard page.
- Removed methodology section – this was actually very informative glossary of terms. Hopefully future iterations of this new dashboard bring it back.
Other Additions/Updates:
- Test positivity went to 14 day average instead of 3 day average – another major good upgrade to provide more accurate trends.
- ICU utilization and hospital utilization and acute care for Covid have all been combined into one chart the covid-related hospital bed utilization.
- Added contact tracing information
New dashboard:
https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/data/
Post on new dashboard:
https://www.facebook.com/107293684331492/posts/171631597897700/?d=n