Timely epidemic monitoring in the presence of reporting delays: anticipating the COVID-19 surge in New York City, September 2020
Abstract Background During a fast-moving epidemic, timely monitoring of case counts and other key indicators of disease spread is critical to an effective public policy response. Methods We describe a nonparametric statistical method, originally applied to the reporting of AIDS cases in the 1980s, t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13286-7 |
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| author | Jeffrey E. Harris |
| author_facet | Jeffrey E. Harris |
| author_sort | Jeffrey E. Harris |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background During a fast-moving epidemic, timely monitoring of case counts and other key indicators of disease spread is critical to an effective public policy response. Methods We describe a nonparametric statistical method, originally applied to the reporting of AIDS cases in the 1980s, to estimate the distribution of reporting delays of confirmed COVID-19 cases in New York City during the late summer and early fall of 2020. Results During August 15–September 26, the estimated mean delay in reporting was 3.3 days, with 87% of cases reported by 5 days from diagnosis. Relying upon the estimated reporting-delay distribution, we projected COVID-19 incidence during the most recent 3 weeks as if each case had instead been reported on the same day that the underlying diagnostic test had been performed. Applying our delay-corrected estimates to case counts reported as of September 26, we projected a surge in new diagnoses that had already occurred but had yet to be reported. Our projections were consistent with counts of confirmed cases subsequently reported by November 7. Conclusion The projected estimate of recently diagnosed cases could have had an impact on timely policy decisions to tighten social distancing measures. While the recent advent of widespread rapid antigen testing has changed the diagnostic testing landscape considerably, delays in public reporting of SARS-CoV-2 case counts remain an important barrier to effective public health policy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T09:19:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f10d223d1195446abecf3d44819493ad |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T09:19:26Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-f10d223d1195446abecf3d44819493ad2022-12-22T02:52:40ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582022-05-012211810.1186/s12889-022-13286-7Timely epidemic monitoring in the presence of reporting delays: anticipating the COVID-19 surge in New York City, September 2020Jeffrey E. Harris0Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyAbstract Background During a fast-moving epidemic, timely monitoring of case counts and other key indicators of disease spread is critical to an effective public policy response. Methods We describe a nonparametric statistical method, originally applied to the reporting of AIDS cases in the 1980s, to estimate the distribution of reporting delays of confirmed COVID-19 cases in New York City during the late summer and early fall of 2020. Results During August 15–September 26, the estimated mean delay in reporting was 3.3 days, with 87% of cases reported by 5 days from diagnosis. Relying upon the estimated reporting-delay distribution, we projected COVID-19 incidence during the most recent 3 weeks as if each case had instead been reported on the same day that the underlying diagnostic test had been performed. Applying our delay-corrected estimates to case counts reported as of September 26, we projected a surge in new diagnoses that had already occurred but had yet to be reported. Our projections were consistent with counts of confirmed cases subsequently reported by November 7. Conclusion The projected estimate of recently diagnosed cases could have had an impact on timely policy decisions to tighten social distancing measures. While the recent advent of widespread rapid antigen testing has changed the diagnostic testing landscape considerably, delays in public reporting of SARS-CoV-2 case counts remain an important barrier to effective public health policy.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13286-7SARS-CoV-2CoronavirusReporting delaysEM algorithmVoluntary testingEpidemic surveillance |
| spellingShingle | Jeffrey E. Harris Timely epidemic monitoring in the presence of reporting delays: anticipating the COVID-19 surge in New York City, September 2020 BMC Public Health SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus Reporting delays EM algorithm Voluntary testing Epidemic surveillance |
| title | Timely epidemic monitoring in the presence of reporting delays: anticipating the COVID-19 surge in New York City, September 2020 |
| title_full | Timely epidemic monitoring in the presence of reporting delays: anticipating the COVID-19 surge in New York City, September 2020 |
| title_fullStr | Timely epidemic monitoring in the presence of reporting delays: anticipating the COVID-19 surge in New York City, September 2020 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Timely epidemic monitoring in the presence of reporting delays: anticipating the COVID-19 surge in New York City, September 2020 |
| title_short | Timely epidemic monitoring in the presence of reporting delays: anticipating the COVID-19 surge in New York City, September 2020 |
| title_sort | timely epidemic monitoring in the presence of reporting delays anticipating the covid 19 surge in new york city september 2020 |
| topic | SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus Reporting delays EM algorithm Voluntary testing Epidemic surveillance |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13286-7 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jeffreyeharris timelyepidemicmonitoringinthepresenceofreportingdelaysanticipatingthecovid19surgeinnewyorkcityseptember2020 |