The below are intended to assist users in understanding the coronavirus data posted by DSHS.
At the time of initial publication by DSHS, all coronavirus data are provisional and subject to change.
Data
Provisional Data
Preliminary data that may not be
complete. More data may be coming in to complete the data set, and DSHS and
others have not completed quality checks of the information. Provisional data
becomes final once the data set is complete and quality checks are finished.
That process often takes several months.
Cases and Fatalities
Confirmed Case
A person who has tested positive
through a molecular test that looks for the virus’s genetic material. Texas
uses the confirmed case definition adopted by the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
Probable Case
A person who has either tested positive through an
antigen test or has a combination of symptoms and a known exposure to someone
with COVID-19 without a more likely diagnosis. Texas uses the probable case
definition adopted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Fatalities
Deaths for which COVID-19 is listed as
a direct cause of death on the death certificate. A medical certifier, usually
a doctor, determines the cause(s) of death. DSHS does not include deaths of
people who had COVID-19 but died of an unrelated cause. Fatalities are reported
by where the person lived as listed on the death certificate.
New Confirmed Cases, New Probable Cases or Newly Reported Fatalities
Cases or fatalities reported for the
first time on the DSHS dashboard that day.
Older Confirmed or Older Probable Case
A reported confirmed case(s) for whom more than 14 days have passed since the date of collection (DOC) for the confirmatory (molecular) laboratory test that was performed. The test date is the next variable used should the DOC be missing.
A reported probable case(s) for whom more than 14 days have passed since the date of collection (DOC) for the presumptive (antigen) laboratory test that was performed. The test date is the next variable used should the DOC be missing.
Outbreak
An increase, often sudden, in disease
cases beyond what is usually expected in a given location, area, time or group
of people.
Race/Ethnicity of Cases
or Fatalities
A
combination of race and ethnicity.
- Hispanic includes people of any race who
identify as Hispanic.
- Those who identify as non-Hispanic or whose
ethnicity is unknown are reported by their race.
- “Other” includes other races and those
who identify as multiple races.
Completed Case Investigations
Details about
specific COVID-19 cases gathered by public health workers. Local and regional
health departments conduct case investigations to identify the source of
disease and advise people how to slow the spread. Individual case
investigations are confidential. When case investigation data is grouped
together, the data can reveal trends about how a virus impacts different groups
of people. Information gathered in a case investigation includes:
- patient age, gender, race/ethnicity
- testing and results
- details about symptoms
- other health conditions
- source
of the patient’s illness
- activity
history for when the patient was able to spread the virus
Death certificate
An official
record of a person’s death filed with state and local officials. It includes
the cause, location and time of death and other personal information. DSHS uses
information on the death certificate to report COVID-19 when COVID-19 is listed
as a direct cause of death.
Active and Recovered Cases
Estimated Recoveries
- An estimate of the number of confirmed and probable cases who have recovered from COVID-19. DSHS uses the following method to estimate the number of recovered patients for local jurisdictions that do not provide their own estimates:
- Identify total confirmed and probable cases reported 14 and 32 days ago (as posted to DSHS COVID-19 Public Dashboard).
- Subtract COVID-19 fatalities.
- Estimate that 20% of living patients reported 32 days ago were hospitalized and have now recovered.
- Estimate that 80% of living patients reported 14 days ago were not hospitalized and have now recovered.
- Estimate that 80% of older confirmed and probable cases newly reported by local jurisdictions within the last 14 days have now recovered (NEW September 28, 2020*)
Assumptions:
Around 20% of living cases required hospitalization and about 80% of remaining/living cases did not.
Recovery time for hospitalized patients is about 32 days, and recovery time for non-hospitalized patients is about 14 days (https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/who-china-joint-mission-on-covid-19-final-report.pdf)
Estimated Active Cases
An estimate
of the number of people with confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases who may still be sick.
The estimate is calculated by taking the total number of confirmed and probable cases and subtracting
fatalities and estimated recoveries. Because both active and recovered cases are
estimates, they can vary from what is reported locally.
Tests
Total Tests Reported
All tests
performed with results submitted to DSHS, including antigen, antibody and
molecular tests. Total tests include positive, negative, indeterminate and repeat
tests. The number does not include tests with results pending.
Molecular Tests
Tests that diagnose current infections
by looking for a germ’s genetic material. For COVID-19, Molecular Tests include
nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT), reverse transcription polymerase chain
reaction (RT-PCR) tests and loop mediated isothermic amplification (LAMP) tests.
Does not include antigen tests. A positive molecular
test is required to meet criteria as a confirmed case.
Antigen Tests
A nasal swab test
that can show a current infection by looking for proteins on the outside of a
germ. They can be performed rapidly where the test is collected. Under the
national case definitions, positive antigen tests indicate probable cases, not confirmed
cases.
Antibody Tests
A blood test
that can show whether a person had a past infection by looking for proteins the
body creates to fight an infection. Also called serology tests. An antibody
test can’t always determine how long ago someone had COVID-19.
Testing Positivity Rate
Measures the
percentage of people tested that are positive. The DSHS formula divides the
number of new cases reported in the past seven days by the new molecular test
results received in the past seven days. The lower the positivity rate, the
better.
Hospitalizations
Lab Confirmed COVID-19 Patients
in Texas Hospitals
The total number of patients in
Texas hospitals who have tested positive for COVID-19.
Confirmed COVID-19 Admissions in Previous 24 Hours
The total number of patients admitted to Texas hospitals on the previous calendar day who tested positive for COVID-19 at the time of admission.
Total Hospital Capacity
The number of
staffed available and occupied beds. This includes pediatric and adult,
general and ICU beds, inpatient and outpatient beds, emergency department beds,
and telemetry and psychiatric beds.
Available Staffed Hospital Beds
The number of staffed beds ready to receive a person who needs hospital
care. Available Staffed Hospital Beds have no patients occupying them and have
medical staff assigned to them.
Available Staffed ICU Beds
The number of staffed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds ready to receive a person who needs intensive care. Includes adult and pediatric beds. Does not include neonatal ICU beds. Available ICU beds have no patients occupying
them and have medical staff assigned to them.
Available Ventilators
The number of ventilators not
in use with the hospital
staff needed to operate them. Ventilators assist a hospitalized person who has difficulty breathing or
getting enough oxygen.
Occupied Hospital Beds
The number of beds that have
patients in them receiving care for any reason.
Trauma Service Area (TSA)
The areas that coordinate emergency medical services and hospital
emergency response in Texas. Hospital capacity data is usually reported by TSA because the hospital trauma system operates regionally
to care for patients.