What this data means
Knowing the positive tests per million people is one of the best measures of the spread of COVID-19. However, different states test different proportions of their population. This tool adjusts for that fact by creating a ratio of tests conducted in each state against that state's population, and applying that ratio to the positive test results. The tool displays a range between actual report results and where the test results would be if each state were to test the same proportion of their population.
Example:
- State A and B have relatively equal populations but test at different rates
- State A tests 10,000 people a day and State B tests only 5,000 people
- State A returns results of 30 positive cases
- State B returns results of 40 positive cases
- We can therefore conclude that if they were testing 10,000 people per day, then State B would have a positive test result of somewhere between 40 (the actual reported) and 80 .
Test run per million are calculated on a 7 day moving average.