Topic: Data Backlog

A Harris County City Council meeting features testimony regarding a massive backlog of over one million COVID-19 tests that were dumped into the system in August. Officials allegedly recorded these old cases as new daily positives to justify keeping the county at a "red" threat level. While the reported 14-day average was 973 cases, the actual average of new cases was approximately 272, suggesting data manipulation to maintain emergency restrictions.

Reports indicate that a surge in Florida's COVID-19 cases was caused by a lab in Miami dumping a backlog of 4,000 positive tests dating back to June. The hosts also note that the UK lowered its official death count by 5,400 after changing its reporting criteria.

Dr. Deborah Birx explained that the transition from low-throughput platforms to high-speed private sector testing will cause a dramatic spike in diagnosed cases. This increase is attributed to clearing a backlog of specimens rather than a sudden surge in new infections. Birx warned that the media might use this statistical "slope of the curve" to falsely claim the U.S. situation is worse than Italy's.