COVID-19 Risk scales rolled back in this week’s weekly report from the Department of Public Health

– News covered by Quincy Quarry News with commentary added.

The spread of the virus is growing but the risk rankings have been lowered
A CDC graphic

COVID-19 risk scales rolled back in this week’s weekly report from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

After delaying for a day the release of its weekly COVID-19 report at all but the last minute on Thursday without any explanation as to why, the likely reason became known on Friday: the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has reset downward its COVID-19 risk scales. 

In turn, problems solved – sorta kinda. 

Other than the fact that – for but one example – comparability to previous reports is now not readily possible.

In other words, so much for consistency and transparency.

Then again, such does provide politicians with considerable latitude to endeavor to thread the needle in spite of the fact that the pandemic is resurging even though at least some are less able than others to thread their way through tight spaces.

The particulars behind the changes are considerable as well as mind-numbing if one cares to wade through them.

Net/net, Quincy Quarry News’ review of things finds changing the scales curious.  Specifically, while the core data calculations remain essentially the same, the Department of Public Health’s ultimately but rescaling of risk thresholds changes has arguably only reduced the number of communities in the Red Zone last week dropped from 121 to only 16 this week even though the number of COVID-19 infections in Massachusetts continue to rise.

Quincy COVID-19 risk keeps increasing
A Massachusetts Department of Public Heath

For example, Quincy dropped from being on the verge of a Red Zone ranking this week per the now former scales to instead now be in the Green Zone per the new scales in spite of an increase in the number of local infections in the most recent week running just short of the Red Zone per the old scales.

Needless to say, the change in COVID-19 scales eerily reminds one of Kochian math and especially Koch Maladministration PowerPoint presentations; however, given the release of the revised weekly report late on Friday afternoon, Quincy Quarry News was not able to reach to anyone to find out if any members of the Koch Machine might have involved in the downsizing of the Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 risk rankings.

Then again, giving rise to difficulty following up with warranted questioning is part and parcel with opting for a late Friday press release featuring bovine byproduct.

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