US health authorities reportedly plan to stop tracking Covid on community level

The number of Covid-19 cases across the country has become increasingly difficult to track, especially as many individuals switch to home testing. Photograph: Sarah Yenesel/EPA

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reportedly plans to stop tracking the spread of Covid-19 on the community level across the country, signalling what could be the federal government’s readiness to reconsider priorities in its approach to the pandemic despite the World Health Organization’s declaration that it is still ongoing.

Instead of using its colour-coded Covid-19 tracking system that focuses on the spread of the virus by counties, the CDC will pivot its tracking focus mostly to hospitalisation rates, CNN first reported on Friday.