U.S. Hospitals End Mandatory COVID-19 Data Reporting, Complicating Pandemic Tracking

May 3, 2024, 06:21 PM

As of today, U.S. hospitals are no longer mandated to report COVID-19 admissions, capacity, or occupancy data to the federal government. This change marks the end of a pandemic-era requirement that was crucial for monitoring the spread of the virus and managing public health responses. The CDC, recognizing the importance of this data for patient safety and public health, is encouraging hospitals to continue reporting voluntarily. However, the lack of mandatory reporting is expected to complicate efforts to track the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and could hinder the monitoring of other potential pandemics like bird flu.