THREAD🧵: In July, the Trump administration abruptly told the CDC to stop collecting and publicly sharing current data on #COVID19 hospitalizations, ICU beds, and PPE. The results have been as predictable—and unacceptable—as expected: nytimes.com/2020/07/14/us/… 
COVID data collection shifted to a third-party under Health & Human Services and subject to potential political influence. The firm has repeatedly refused to answer questions about its contract & data collection, which—unlike the CDC—are not fully public. nytimes.com/2020/08/14/us/…
As a result, the CDC’s website with these data disappeared. Then, due to public outcry, CDC’s website was partially restored but only with outdated information. propublica.org/article/out-of…
Experts have been raising alarms. ⚠️ ⚠️ ⚠️
nytimes.com/2020/08/12/us/…
nytimes.com/2020/08/12/us/…
Sure enough, shifting to an entirely new data collection process and system in the middle of a #pandemic caused widespread issues. Some states even lost access to the data they needed to make informed decisions about public health. npr.org/sections/healt…
Overall, data collection efforts have been plagued by inaccuracies and delays, making it more difficult for local, state, and federal leaders to make the informed, evidence-based decisions we need to effectively fight the pandemic. npr.org/sections/healt…
This is unacceptable. Demand that #COVID19 data once again be collected by the CDC. Tell HHS director Azar that we need an evidence-and science-based response to the pandemic—not more politics and confusion. act.ucsusa.org/3eXF7jp
Update: The Dept of Health & Human Services told hospitals in April that they had to report #COVID19 data to a third-party firm as a "prerequisite" to receive emergency relief fund payments, which Congress had approved without preconditions for hospitals. nytimes.com/2020/08/23/us/…
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