DC reports backlog of COVID-19 cases caused by IT issue

The Washington, D.C., government reported on Tuesday that the city saw a backlog in COVID-19 cases over the last three to four days because of an IT issue, a day after Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) announced plans to loosen coronavirus restrictions.  

The city first raised the matter in its written daily coronavirus data update, saying the backlogged cases will appear in Monday’s case count “partially” and in Tuesday’s case count.

“Due to an IT issue that has since been resolved, DC Health has identified that there is a backlog of cases from the past 3-4 days that is partially reflected in today’s case count and will also be present in tomorrow’s case count,” the update said. 

DC recorded 87 additional positive COVID-19 cases on Monday and three additional deaths, contributing to a total of 48,282 cases and 1,113 fatalities throughout the pandemic. 

In the previous four days, the city counted a downtrend in cases with 56, 28, 16 and then 15 new cases per day. 

The complication in the city’s data reporting came a day after Bowser announced that most coronavirus restrictions would be dropped on May 21, citing a decrease in DC’s seven-day average of new daily cases.

Data from before the reporting issue showed the average number of daily cases per 100,000 people had still largely declined throughout April and May, according to The New York Times. 

The mayor’s office did not immediately return The Hill’s request for comment. DC Health referred to the statement in the update.

Before the backlog was reported, DC documented 6.6 new cases per 100,000 residents on Monday compared to more than 40 in the winter.

Under the loosened regulations, Bowser said capacity limits would be boosted to 50 percent for bars, nightclubs, sports arenas and entertainment venues on May 21 and officially end on June 11.

Updated at 5:17 p.m.