Looking at the fairly consistent day-by day pattern throughout the weeks shows that reported cases drop down on the weekends and spike on Thursdays and Fridays. I wonder what causes that
It's a pattern in other countries too. It's probably because most places aren't working which would include government offices, doctor practices and stuff so fewer tests are done and if of the ones done a fraction will just report the number for the Monday total instead. Someone who wants to get tested will probably also just push it to Monday and try to enjoy what little weekend free time they have.
I don't know how the US does it but here they retroactively add cases to past days when they come in so by like Tuesdays the spike between Friday and Saturday evens out a bit. It might just be that the CDC just rolls over the weekend number to Monday instead so the spike stays. That's why it's better to look at a 7 day average. That's what's advised on all the coverage here.
Looking at the fairly consistent day-by day pattern throughout the weeks shows that reported cases drop down on the weekends and spike on Thursdays and Fridays. I wonder what causes that
It's a pattern in other countries too. It's probably because most places aren't working which would include government offices, doctor practices and stuff so fewer tests are done and if of the ones done a fraction will just report the number for the Monday total instead. Someone who wants to get tested will probably also just push it to Monday and try to enjoy what little weekend free time they have.
That makes sense
I don't know how the US does it but here they retroactively add cases to past days when they come in so by like Tuesdays the spike between Friday and Saturday evens out a bit. It might just be that the CDC just rolls over the weekend number to Monday instead so the spike stays. That's why it's better to look at a 7 day average. That's what's advised on all the coverage here.