With a rise in at-home testing and a lack of reliable access to officially administered PCR tests, official COVID-19 case rates are likely not as accurate as they were a year ago.
Dr. Andrew Noymer, epidemiologist and health demographer at UC Irvine studying infectious diseases and mortality told KCBS Radio's "Ask An Expert" it has become more difficult to measure COVID-19 surges.
"We're not operating in a total vacuum, but it is a challenge to track cases over time because the way we're measuring them has changed," he said.
As more people opt to take an at-home COVID-19 test where the results are not reported, Noymer said health experts have turned to a different, more reliable source of data.
"Hospitalizations are definitely the most reliable measure to look at that overtime gives you a like for like comparison," he explained. "Positivity rates are interesting, but I think hospitalization, and in some cases ICU occupancy, is where it’s at in terms of knowing where we’re going."
As the BA.2 variant surges across the country, Noymer admitted, yes vaccinated and boosted people are testing positive "left and right." However, in most cases, he said, the seriousness of the illness is comparable to a cold. "That's obviously better news than before in terms of the severity."
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