July 23rd the Independent stated that Scottsdale had reached 2,011 COVID-19 cases.
About one infection for every 125 people residing in the city. The data from the AZ Dept. of Health Services upon which that report was based shows that there are actually 120% more cases than the Independent led us to believe.
When we are trying to convince residents to take this risk seriously, telling them the risk is 55% lower than the truth causes bad personal decisions. It has been hard enough to convince Scottsdale residents to stay home and wear masks after an infamous City Council member publicly stated the opposite.
Now the Independent adds fuel to the “hoaxers” fire.
When we are trying to decide when and how to reopen schools, grossly under-reporting the actual number of cases also causes anger among those in the community who want all schools open.
It could lead to horrible decisions by school leaders or school boards who relied on that article when considering whether to open schools.
The Independent’s mistake was not the only mistake made this week.
First --- the state admitted that COVID-19 labs not only were late completing reports, but also very late getting data in to the Dept. of Health Services data base. That delinquency and that omission caused false optimism.
Second --- the state and county have refused to release precise data to school administrators regarding the age in years and ZIP code of each person who is reported to be infected.
Trying to reopen schools when infections among newborns and toddlers is commingled with high school students leads to bad decisions. Withholding critical data without a legitimate purpose is worse than nonfeasance. It is malfeasance.
Third --- July 23rd the Independent topped it all off. We have enough problems with rumors of hoaxes without the news media blundering at that level. The Independent did a grave disservice to the city through sloppy and incomplete reporting.
For the record:
There are nine ZIP codes lying completely within the city limits not four.
The Independent critically left out data for the two ZIP codes in the downtown/south Scottsdale area that have more than 2,000 cases between them on their own. Scottsdale infections.
ZIP codes completely within Scottsdale city limits:
Cases reported since March 1: 4,621 (not 2,011)
Cases reported in prior seven days: 450 (1/2 the 07/01 rate)
ZIP codes partially within Scottsdale and completely or primarily within SUSD boundaries:
Cases reported since March 1: 6,783
Cases reported in prior seven days: 681
I am the founder of and research director for Athena Foundation Scottsdale.
Among other work this research group has been providing Scottsdale specific data, to the extent available, to education decision makers throughout the community.
I have already made public records requests of the county health department seeking age specific data for all COVID-19 cases reported.
Hopefully through that request and the effort of others, the County Board of Supervisors will choose to do the right thing and provide the facts required to support the work of school decision makers.
Editor’s Note: Mike Norton is a longtime Scottsdale resident.
