(03-05-2020, 09:21 AM)oldalum Wrote: Plus, need to know vs. want to know. I'm unclear what the "need to know" is. And must guard against misuse of/hysteria about the information. E.g., identification of a hospital treating an inpatient with coronavirus might have some unwarranted and adverse consequences (including adverse health consequences), vs. any benefit to releasing that information (I'm unclear as to what the benefits might be).Really? The need to know is so obvious that it shouldn't even have to be stated. Citizens can't take appropriate steps to safeguard their health without knowing how many infected people there are and where they are. The ages, sexes, and pre-existing conditions (even at a "yes/no" level) are relevant, too, for understanding how the virus is behaving (there is evidence of different strains now, as discussed above). All of that information can be released without individually identifying any patients.
More generally, the results of all testing (x positive tests, y negative tests) can be released without identifying anyone. Even at the state or US level this would be good to know.