03-23-2020, 03:12 PM
(03-23-2020, 03:05 PM)jamincan Wrote:(03-23-2020, 01:58 PM)danbrotherston Wrote: It means the context of previous data is lost, the previous data is still valid, just in a different context...
The biggest problem is this change in context was not explained, and as a result, you get newspaper headlines like the ones I posted, which has the potential to increase panic.
The problem with continuing to report with the same methodology is that the context of that data has changed as well, so you can't interpret the results under the old methodology the same either. In fact, continuing to use that methodology could result in the public understanding that the situation is far less severe than it is. In that situation, then, you have to ask if waiting for confirmation of results from the National Laboratory better reflects the situation, or if using the preliminary results does.
I am not suggesting that they should have kept the old methodology. But they have done a disservice by changing methodology without explaining it, and the reasoning behind it clearly.