SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::
The GRIP has reached out to the Georgia Department of Public Health seeking clarification regarding significant inconsistencies in its COVID-19 data.
The state DPH website has for weeks been updating data at least twice daily – at noon and 7 p.m.
At noon Sunday, April 19, the DPH reported there were 18,301 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Georgia.
At 7 p.m., that number had decreased to 18,157.
The data regarding hospitalized patients also decreased by 38 patients from 3,464 to 3,426.
Furthermore, six fewer deaths were recorded at 7 p.m., with that data having decreased from 687 to 681.
The GRIP initially emailed Department of Public Health District 4 Public Information Officer Hayla Folden, asking how such disparate data is possible.
Folden responded, but could not explain the inconsistencies.
These questions were then presented to state Department of Public Health Communications Director Nancy Nydam, who as of publication, had not responded to the inquiry.
The GRIP will report additional information on this matter as it becomes available.